Siparex increased its investments in Auralpine companies in 2022 – Le Journal des Entreprises

The Lyon investment group Siparex (50 employees) is financing French and Auralpine companies more than ever. The group’s various funds show an investment volume of 440 million euros in 2022, an increase of nearly 50% compared to 2021. 86 million euros were invested in companies in Auvergne Rhône-Alpes, i.e. 40% more than in 2021 (61 million euros).

The 82 regional companies in the portfolios of the various investment funds of the venture capital company represent a cumulative turnover of 6 billion euros and 15,000 jobs, from start-ups to ETIs. “2022 was a very good year of disposals, for a total amount of 80 million euros”, announces Bertrand Rambaud, president of Siparex, who underlines that “the assets have become polarized” with, on the one hand, very good performances and, on the other hand, companies in the grip of cash flow difficulties, such as the Cotélac ready-to-wear brandbased in Ain, which must repay more than 8 million loans guaranteed by the State.

ETI with high potential

Among the “beautiful releases” of Siparex in 2022 are the Drôme fruit wholesaler Comptoir Rhodanien (72 M€ turnover), the specialist in digital transformation Axess Group (300 employees; €30 million in turnover), the Lyon industrialist Clayens (300 employees; €350 million in turnover), the energy renovation specialist Energygo (130 employees, 53 M€ turnover in 2021) and the Isérois specialist in tubes and pipes Elydan (400 employees, €200 million turnover in 2022).

The fund also reinvested in some of its holdings and made new investments. The heavyweights in the portfolio (medium-sized companies with 250 to 4,999 employees) benefited in particular from support to make acquisitions in France and abroad. Thus, the Drôme carrier Jacky Perrenot (€1 billion in turnover) bought the Spanish company Tamdisthe upper Savoyard Maped took over Juratoys (€276 million in revenue); the Isérois Elydan (185 M€ turnover) got its hands on the Mexican Plasco, and the Loire-based Valentin Traiteur (€170 million turnover) on the Indonesian Roland Monterrat. Finally, Siparex ETI took a stake in the Rhone-based industrialist specializing in technologies for building well-being Aldes (1,400 employees; €390 million in revenue in 2022) for the takeover of Aereco.

Gems of tomorrow

In terms of new participations, growing SMEs have caught the attention of Siparex Midcap, such as the Grenoble Bassetti, specializing in IT for research, which is growing by 25 to 30% per year. Expert in growing SMEs, the Siparex Entrepreneurs fund has invested in the Loire specialist in online administrative procedures Advercity and the Indian solembra (bioclimatic pergolas). Finally, the sovereign wealth fund managed on behalf of the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes Region by Siparex has notably increased the capital of Technogenia (Haute-Savoie), Eco Waste (Rhône), Alpinestore (Haute-Savoie).