R Capital et al. back CommentCaMarche and Benchmark merger

The pool of private equity investors provided CommentCaMarche with €27m to finance the acquisition, according to media reports. The transaction value was estimated to be around €60m, although this remains to be confirmed.

BNP Paribas and OBC will provide a debt package to leverage the deal; Oséo will also provide a grant to the newly constituted entity.

Founded in 1996, Benchmark Group is a Boulogne Billancourt-based digital media group. Operating the French social network "Copains d'avant" and a range of online publications attracting around 15 million unique visitors per month, it posted a €17m turnover for 2009. CommentCaMarche was established in 1999 on a similar concept; the new entity will employ 175 people and should rank within the top five French online publishers.

The unquote" team is currently researching this transaction. In-depth deal information for subscribers will follow shortly.

If you have any information regarding this transaction, please contact Grégoire Gille on +44 20 7484 9824 or gregoire.gille@incisivemedia.com

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