- Argos Wityu acquires a majority stake in Groupe Routin through its Argos Climate Action fund alongside historical investors Crédit Mutuel Equity and UI Investissement, and the company’s management.
- The objective is to accelerate both the international growth and the environmental transition.
Groupe Routin is a French-based manufacturer of high-end syrups and ingredients for creative drinks. Founded more than 140 years ago (in 1883), the company has built its reputation on a wealth of purely local know-how, agility and a high level of service to its customers in 84 countries. With its strong French “art de vivre” identity, Groupe Routin is the pioneer of the “Drink Design® movement, putting its expertise at the service of creativity and taste experiences. The company employs more than 240 people, and its revenues exceeded €115m in 2023.
At the same time, in line with Argos Climate Action’s purpose, particular emphasis will be placed on accelerating the company’s environmental transition, focusing on decarbonisation, water savings, and the naturality of recipes. Offering more sustainable products and further improving the company’s environmental performance will meet collective expectations and reinforce Routin’s differentiation in the market.
The Argos Climate Action fund is Europe’s first “Grey to Green” buyout fund, aimed at accelerating the decarbonisation of European SMEs. The aim of this decarbonisation fund is to build sustainable European leaders by reducing the CO2 intensity of its portfolio companies by at least 7.5% per year. In line with these objectives, the Group Routin’s development plan will be supported by the Argos Climate Action fund, historical investors Crédit Mutuel Equity and UI Investissement, and the company’s management.
BNP Paribas Développement, Arkea Capital, Garibaldi Participations, and Swen Capital Partners supported the acquisition of Groupe Routin alongside the Argos Climate Action fund through a vehicle managed by Argos Wityu.
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Argos team: Sandra Lagumina, Simon Guichard, Pierre Cassignol, Caroline Fady
Argos Wityu
Coralie Cornet
Head of Communications
ccc@argos.fund
+33 (0)6 14 38 33 37
About Argos Wityu / argos.wityu.fund
One firm, two strategies. Argos Wityu is an independent European private-equity group that supports the growth of mid-sized businesses and backs their management teams.
With more than €1.8bn assets under management, over 30 years of experience and more than 90 businesses assisted, Argos Wityu operates from offices in Amsterdam, Brussels, Frankfurt, Geneva, Luxembourg, Milan, and Paris. The group seeks to acquire majority stakes and invests between €10m and €100m in each investment of its two strategies:
- The Argos Mid-Market fund helps companies implement ownership transitions to accelerate growth;
- The Argos Climate Action fund (SFDR 9) aims at shaping European sustainable leaders by making their ‘grey-to-green’ transition
