• Home
  •  
    Regions
    • Europe
    • UK & Ireland
    • DACH
    • Nordic
    • France
    • Southern Europe
    • Benelux
    • CEE
    • Asia
  •  
    Deals
    • Buyouts
    • Venture
    • Exits
    • Refinancings
    • Build-up
    • Turnaround
    • Secondaries
    • Advanced deal search
  •  
    Funds
    • Buyout
    • Venture
    • Mezzanine
    • Debt
    • Funds-of-funds
    • Secondaries
    • Fundraising pipelines
    • Advanced funds search
  •  
    GPs & LPs
    • GP profiles
    • LP profiles
    • GP news
    • LP news
    • Sponsors search
    • LPs search
  •  
    Secondaries
    • Deals
    • Funds
    • News
    • Analysis
  •  
    People
    • People moves
    • Analysis
    • In Profile
    • Q&A
    • Videos
    • Comment
  •  
    Analysis
    • In Profile
    • Fundraising
    • Q&A
    • Comment
    • Videos
    • Podcast
    • Reports
    • Data Snapshots
  •  
    Unquote Data
    • Deals search
    • Exits search
    • Funds search
    • Sponsors search
    • Advisers search
    • LPs search
    • League tables
    • Reports
  • Sign in
  • Sign in
    • You are currently accessing unquote.com via your Enterprise account.

      If you already have an account please use the link below to sign in.

      If you have any problems with your access or would like to request an individual access account please contact our customer service team.

      Phone: +44 (0)203 741 1137

      Email: Georgina.Lawson@acuris.com

      • Sign in
     
      • Newsletters
      • Account details
      • Contact support
      • Sign out
     
  • Follow us
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn
  • Free Trial
  • Subscribe
Unquote
Unquote
  • Home
  • Regions
  • Deals
  • Funds
  • GPs & LPs
  • Secondaries
  • People
  • Analysis
  • Unquote Data
      • Deals search
      • Exits search
      • Funds search
      • Sponsors search
      • Advisers search
      • LPs search
      • League tables
      • Reports
  • You are currently accessing unquote.com via your Enterprise account.

    If you already have an account please use the link below to sign in.

    If you have any problems with your access or would like to request an individual access account please contact our customer service team.

    Phone: +44 (0)203 741 1137

    Email: Georgina.Lawson@acuris.com

    • Sign in
 
    • Newsletters
    • Account details
    • Contact support
    • Sign out
 
UNQUOTE
  • Buyouts

Groupe Vilavi stays French and starts new chapter with HLD

  • Myriam Mariotte
  • 04 August 2023
  • Tweet  
  • Facebook  
  • LinkedIn  
  • Google plus  
  • Send to  

French private equity firm HLD is to acquire France-headquartered insurance broker Groupe Vilavi, starting a new chapter for the business after criminal charges against its former CEO called its trajectory into question.

The deal, which is still pending competition authority approval, is expected to be completed by the end of October, a source familiar with the matter said. The deal values the business at around EUR 300m, as reported.

Vilavi's managers were looking to secure the group's future after former CEO and majority owner Jacques Bouthier was indicted last May for various offenses, including trafficking human beings with a minor, and attempted rape and rape of a minor over 15 years old, as reported by French press. Bouthier holds an 88% stake in Vilavi through his family holding Amapola, a second source familiar said.

This July, lawyers from the Moroccan Association for Victims' Rights (AMDV) in Tangiers requested a rogatory commission regarding criminal matters in France, after the former CEO was released on bail, under judicial supervision, for medical reasons in March 2023, as covered on 15 July by French press.

HLD's goal following the acquisition is that Bouthier will exit Vilavi entirely, the same source said, adding that the indictment implied ESG and compliance issues for insurers working with the business before the change in ownership.

HLD will mainly fund the deal in equity, as well as debt secured from five insurers, Vilavi's partners Allianz France, Generali France, Swiss Life France, MFA and Wakam, the same source said. Current management and employees of the group will own a minority stake in the business, as per an official press release.

After acquiring the business, HLD will focus on organic growth, including healthcare services for individuals, insurance against risks in the workplace and becoming a wholesale broker, as well as developing the company's online offering, the first source said.

Although not a priority for now, M&A is also part of the growth plan for Vilavi to strengthen its footprint in key sectors, including healthcare, this source said. The final priority would be to strengthen management and implement new skills, they added.

HLD plans to position Vilavi as an independent player while preserving the company's value and its workforce, this source said. The group, which has been operating for the last forty years, has around 550,000 customers and its business model has an ESG angle as it facilitates wider access to insurance, with passenger car drivers benefiting from its automotive insurance for example, the source said.

German-based larger insurance group Allianz was also pursuing the asset during the auction kicked off by Vilavi's management, the same source said. An acquisition by Allianz would have implied a risk of other insurers not working with Vilavi anymore, which would have impacted the business' value, the source said.

HLD, Vilavi and Allianz declined to comment.

Company
Established in 1975 and formerly known as Assu 2000, Vilavi is an insurance company with 1,500 employees working across 320 sites and registered close to EUR 150m revenue in 2022, as per an official press release.

People
HLD - Cédric Chateau, Antoine Pineau , Pauline de Williencourt , Geoffroy Desjeux, Valentin Pauzes.

  • Tweet  
  • Facebook  
  • LinkedIn  
  • Google plus  
  • Send to  
  • Topics
  • Buyouts
  • France
  • Financials
  • France

More on Buyouts

Permira to take Ergomed private for GBP 703m
Permira to take Ergomed private for GBP 703m

Sponsor deploys Permira VIII to ride new wave of take-privates; Blackstone commits GBP 200m in financing for UK-based CRO

  • Buyouts
  • 04 September 2023
Main Capital's Assessio to be sold to Pollen Street
Main Capital's Assessio to be sold to Pollen Street

Recruitment software company tripled in revenue under Main Capital’s ownership

  • Buyouts
  • 25 August 2023
TPG takes majority control of A-Gas, doubles down on impact investing
TPG takes majority control of A-Gas, doubles down on impact investing

KKR partially exits its 2017 investment in the specialty gas and chemical distributor, retaining a minority stake

  • Buyouts
  • 18 August 2023
Quadrivio to capitalise on baby boomers as it nears wrap for its new EUR 300m fund
Quadrivio to capitalise on baby boomers as it nears wrap for its new EUR 300m fund

The Silver Economy Fund makes its second investment as it highlights trend of GPs doubling down on narrow strategies

  • Buyouts
  • 16 August 2023

Latest News

Partners Group to release IMs for Civica sale in mid-September
  • Exits
Stonehage Fleming raises USD 130m for largest fund to date, eyes 2024 programme

Sponsor acquired the public software group in July 2017 via the same-year vintage Partners Group Global Value 2017

  • 04 September 2023
BHM Group builds on PE strategy, eyes European medtech and renewable energy acquisitions
  • Investments
Stonehage Fleming raises USD 130m for largest fund to date, eyes 2024 programme

Czech Republic-headquartered family office is targeting DACH and CEE region deals

  • 01 September 2023
Redalpine expands leadership team amid CHF 1bn-plus fundraise
  • Venture
Stonehage Fleming raises USD 130m for largest fund to date, eyes 2024 programme

Ex-Rocket Internet leader Bettina Curtze joins Swiss VC firm as partner and CFO

  • 31 August 2023
Change Ventures aims to hold final close for EUR 20m third fund by mid-2024
  • Funds
Stonehage Fleming raises USD 130m for largest fund to date, eyes 2024 programme

Estonia-registered VC could bolster LP base with fresh capital from funds-of-funds or pension funds

  • 31 August 2023
Back to Top
  • About Unquote
  • Advertise
  • Contacts
  • About Acuris
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Group Disclaimer
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

© Merger Market

© Mergermarket Limited, 10 Queen Street Place, London EC4R 1BE - Company registration number 03879547

Digital publisher of the year 2010 & 2013

Digital publisher of the year 2010 & 2013