FRANCE - Activa Capital organises MBO of Logitrade

Fay
01 March 2006

Tweet
Facebook
LinkedIn
Google plus
Send to

Activa Capital has organised the management buyout of Logitrade, France’s leading procurement externalisation business for non-strategic purchases. Logitrade has been purchased from its founder, Bernard Mercadier, who will remain as chairman of the supervisory board and a company shareholder. Michel Duval will become CEO and a significant shareholder in Logitrade. BNP Paribas has underwritten the debt facilities.

Logitrade was founded in 1994 by Bernard Mercadier after a long career within the purchasing departments of IBM. Since 1994, the company has undergone strong growth in sales and profitability by consistently winning new blue-chip customers for which it organises the procurement of non-strategic purchases. Over the last five years, Logitrade has achieved annual sales growth in excess of 20% combined with strong increase in profitability. In 2005, Logitrade generated sales of EUR 90m, making it the leading French firm in its field. By assisting customers with all their non-strategic purchasing requirements, it improves customers’ purchasing conditions as well as outsourcing a fixed cost base to a variable cost base.

Michel Duval was selected by Logitrade in early 2005 to lead the MBO for the next stage of Logitrade’s development, having previously been CEO of Eurotainer, the world’s largest tank container rental company. He brings experience in service orientated companies working on behalf of demanding blue-chip customers. The reinforcement of the management team with the arrival of Duval and the support of Activa Capital, will allow Logitrade to win new customers as well as seizing external growth opportunities.