EdRip's Altavia acquires Sumis

Alice Tchernookova
30 May 2017

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Backed by Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners (EdRip) since 2015, French marketing and communications group Altavia has acquired Amsterdam-based Sumis Company.

Sumis was previously privately owned.

EdRip has held a 10% stake in Altavia since 2015. Upon its investment in the group – made through the Winch Capital 3 fund – the GP said it intended to consolidate growth across the European and Asian markets organically and via targeted acquisitions. In particular, Altavia would seek to acquire companies across the marketing and digital sectors in Denmark, the Netherlands, Brazil, Morocco and the Middle East, the GP told unquote" at the time.

Altavia's latest purchase adds to a string of bolt-ons, having previously acquired Paris-based marketing agency Cosmic and Northampton-headquartered retail agency HRG UK in 2013-2014.

No additional equity was provided by EdRip for the current transaction.

Previous funding
In 2015, Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners (EdRip) secured a 10% stake in Altavia, becoming its third largest shareholder after company founder and CEO Raphaël Palti, and after the management of Altavia's European and Asian divisions, which retained around a 25% stake in the business. The investment was the fifth made from EdRip's Winch Capital 3 fund.

According to unquote" data, Natixis Investissement Partners previously acquired a majority stake in the group in 2004.

Company
Founded in 1983 by Raphaël Palti, Altavia is a provider of marketing services for retailers. Headquartered in Saint-Ouen, the business works with 300 retailers and brands across 25 countries in Europe and Asia. The company posted revenues of €699m in 2016, half of which was generated abroad. It employs 1,500 people in 26 countries.

Founded in 1974 by Marc Smeitink, Stefan Hijstee, Ferry Bol and Koen de Groot, Sumis provides end-to-end marketing services to EU-based retailers. Services include project management, concept design, procurement, IT services, campaign distribution, customer data analysis and segmentation. Based in Amsterdam, the group currently generates around €120m in sales.

People
EdRip – Antoine Le Bourgeois, Pierre-Yves Poirier (partners).

Advisers
Equity – Mazars, Isabelle Massa, Pierre Tchertoff (financial due diligence); Van Till, Rogier Loosen (legal).