News

Milan, 27th November 2014 – ARGOS WITYU announces the acquisition of a controlling stake of ODONTO GROUP, an innovative and flexible dental service provider operating in public hospitals, mainly in Northern Italy.

Paris, November 12th, 2014 - The Argos Mid-Market Index recorded a decline in the 3rd quarter to 8.0x historic EBITDA while M&A activity is increasing in volume and value.

Brussels, 12th November 2013 - Two years after closing its sixth buy-out fund - a €400m fund focused on European lower-mid market businesses - Argos Wityu has opened a new office in Brussels to address the Benelux market.

Paris 23rd July 2014 - The Argos Mid-Market Index posted a sharp increase in the 2^nd quarter to 8.6x historical EBITDA, while M&A activity stagnated at low levels.

Paris, 28th May 2014 - Following the period of exclusivity begun April 30th, the Argos Wityu funds have completed the sale of Orsyp to the automation software specialist Automic (formerly UC4), owned by the Scandinavian fund EQT.

Paris, 13th May 2014 - In the 1st quarter 2014, the valuation for acquisitions of medium sized unquoted companies in the Eurozone stands at 7.8x historical EBITDA, showing an increase of 4% over the previous quarter.

Milan, 09 May 2014 – Argos Wityu announces the acquisition of a controlling stake of Bip, the innovative Management Consulting Company operating mainly in Telco & Media, Energy & Utilities, Pharma, Healthcare and Financial Services.

Paris, 30th April 2014 – The funds managed by Argos Wityu have received an offer on 100% of Orsyp and have entered into exclusive discussions with the automation software specialist Automic (formerly UC4), owned by the Scandinavian fund EQT.

Paris, 20th March - The Funds managed by Argos Wityu announce the acquisition through a management buy-out (MBO) of Valco Group France (VGF), a company specialised in the design, manufacture and maintenance of industrial valves for applications in the energy sector (petrol, gas, nuclear), the chemical sector and industry.

Paris, 21^st February 2014 - Alkan welcomes its new shareholder, TCR Capital in order to continue its development.

Paris, 11th February 2014 - The Argos Mid-Market Index shows a big jump to 7,5x EBITDA in a recovering M&A market

Paris, February 3rd - Argos Wityu is happy to announce the nominations of Frédéric Quéru and Raphaël Bazin as Investment Managers.

Paris, le 10 décembre. Toute l'équipe d'Argos Wityu vous dresses ses meilleurs vœux pour l'année 2014

Paris and Codolet, France, November 18th 2013 - The funds managed by Argos Wityu announce the acquisition, together with the management, of Cisbio Bioassays. This cutting-edge biotechnology company is the leader in the field of products and services for human in vitro diagnostics and pharmaceutical research.

Paris, 12 November 2013 - Private equity valuations in the Eurozone remained stable this quarter at 6.7x EBITDA whilst M&A activity increased in both volume and value.

Paris, 14th October 2013 - Argos Wityu is pleased to announce the promotion of Guillaume Lefebvre to Associate.

Geneva, September 12^th 2013 - Acquired by Euroknights VI in May 2012, ASC International House (“ASC-IH”) provided language training and private school education in English across several locations in Western Switzerland and France.

31 July 2013 – It is with great sadness that the partners and team of Argos Wityu have to report the death of Maurice Dwek aged 81, founder of Argos Wityu.

Paris, 25th July - While M&A activity continues to decline and hit historical lows this quarter, Eurozone private company valuations showed a slight increase from 6,6 to 6,7x EBITDA.

Milan, 31 May 2013 - Argos Wityu announces the completion of the acquisition of a majority stake in Via Delle Perle S.p.A., historic trademark of premium womenswear.

Paris, 14th may 2013 - The Argos Mid-Market Index rose in the 1^st quarter of 21013, to 6.6x EBITDA i.e. an increase of 5% compared to the last quarter of 2012.

Paris, 2^nd May, 2013 – Following the period of exclusivity begun last February, the Argos Wityu funds have completed the acquisition of 4 Sage subsidiaries which specialize in software edition for vertical markets, three in France and one in Spain.

Paris, 23rd April 2013 - Argos Wityu announces the acquisition of the Natural Distribution. group, the European specialist in food supplements based on plants and components of natural origin, in a BIMBO transaction alongside the management team, led by Nigel Henton.

Paris 26th February 2013 - The unlisted mid-market valuations in the Euro zone remain stable at 6.3x EBITDA whereas M&A activity is at an historically low level for the year 2012 in spite of a rise in the last quarter.

Paris, 19th February 2013 - Argos Wityu has entered into exclusive negotiations with the Sage Group concerning the acquisition of 4 subsidiaries : C&I, ATL and SPC in France and Aytos in Spain.

Milan, 13th February - Argos Wityu announces the completion of the acquisition of the majority of Antex S.r.l. and FIS S.p.A., leading companies in the Italian market providing Human Resources (“HR”) and Finance and Administration (“F&A”) outsourcing services.

Paris, 20th November - In a difficult economic climate, unlisted mid-market valuations have once again fallen to 6.3x EBITDA and M&A activity is at a new low.

Paris, October 23rd - Argos Wityu is pleased to announce the promotion to Associate of Nicolas Trani and the arrival of Simon Guichard.

Paris, 24th July 2012 - While non listed mid-market valuations in the Euro zone fell once again, to 7x EBITDA, the foreign industrials are more active than European buyers

Paris, July 10th - Acquired by the Argos Wityu investment funds in 2005, the Roc-Eclerc Group has been sold to Daniel Abittan (founder of PhotoServices, Grand Optical, Acuitis) and to the management team.

Paris, 21st May - Following a 6.5% decrease compared to the previous quarter, valuations of euro zone private mid market companies drop to 7.2x EBITDA

Organised by Les Echos for the 8th consecutive year in partnership with the AFIC (French Association of Capital Investors) and Capital Finance, this gathering of capital transmission players brings together more than 150 participants each year to discuss the strategic evolution of the sector and the positioning of the professionals.

Milan, 12^th April 2012 – ARGOS WITYU announces the sale of Bellco to “Charme II”, an Italian Private Equity Fund managed by Montezemolo & partners SGR, through a full equity deal.

Paris – From 17th to 31st March 2012, Argos Wityu will be a partner of the n°123 Team Gaz'for elles.

Paris - Following the nomination of Karel Kroupa as the 8th Partner in Argos Wityu in January, Jérémie Falzone becomes an Investment Manager and Guillaume Lefebvre joins the team as an analyst.

Paris, 24th February, 2012 - Fondations Capital enters exclusive negotiations with the funds advised by Argos Wityu for the acquisition, alongside its management team, of the Buffet Group.

Paris - As of December 2011, valuations of euro zone private mid market companies stood at 7.5x EBITDA, an increase of 14% compared to 2010.

Paris - Karel Kroupa has been appointed as a Partner in Argos Wityu, raising to eight the number of partners in the Group.

Paris - On the 3rd of January 2012, Buffet Crampon Group became Buffet Group. Its new identity brings together all Group brands behind a single vision, namely to become the “global reference in wind instruments”.

Paris - Argos Wityu announces the acquisition of Marchegay Technologies, French leader in glass buildings and a major player in the renewable energies sector, by way of a majority MBO alongside the management team.

Geneva - Bartholet Maschinenbau AG (BMF) with its headquarter in Flums, Switzerland, located in the middle of the gorgeous “HEIDILAND” region, is a leading international Swiss company in the fields of cable railway systems, amusement park facilities as well as mechanical engineering and metal processing.

During its annual Forum, Philippe Braidy (Chairman of CDC Entreprises) and Pascal Lagarde (Managing Director of CDC Entreprises) announced the winners of the 2^nd CDC Entreprises Trophy. This award honours 8 investment teams affiliated with CDC Enterprises, and 3 companies.

Paris, the valuations of medium sized unlisted euro zone enterprises rose to 7,2x EBITDA at the end of June 2011, bringing it back to its historical average since the creation of the Argos Mid-Market Index.

Paris - Argos Wityu is pleased to announce the sale of the Shop Novation Group by way of a secondary LBO to Azulis Capital, in association with the management team.

Paris - Cobalt Capital has finalised it’s acquisition of the Mertz Group, a specialist in the transport of dangerous materials and containers, from Argos Wityu.

Paris, le 22 juin- Cobalt Capital est entré en exclusivité avec Argos Wityu, actionnaire majoritaire aux côtés des dirigeants depuis 2008, pour acquérir le Groupe Mertz, un spécialiste du transport de matières dangereuses et de conteneurs.

Paris- Following Richard REIS et Raphaël BAZIN en 2010, Argos Wityu is pleased to announce the reinforcement of its team by the addition of Nicolas TRANI.

Milan - Argos Wityu announces the acquisition of a majority stake in Dimar, a company based in Corridonia (Central Italy) and Italian leader in the retail distribution of frozen fish and seafood through a network of over 70 “Sapore di Mare” franchisee shops.

Paris - Louis Godron, Directeur Général d'Argos Wityu et Président de la commission MBO de l'AFIC ouvrira les débats sur les tendances et les chiffres du LBO en 2011.

Paris, le 28 avrilLouis Godron, Directeur Général d'Argos Wityu participe au débat "LP/GP - Rééquilibrage des termes et conditions".

Paris - Argos Wityu announces the latest release of the Argos Mid-Market Index for H2 2010 : valuations of euro zone mid market companies continued to increase during the second half of 2010: in December 2010, they stood at 6.6x EBITDA, or 3% more than in June 2010.

Paris - From March 19th to April 2nd, Argos Wityu will be the partner of the Team Gaz'for elles

Paris - Euroknights VI successful fundraising in challenging market Argos Wityu is pleased to announce the closing of Euroknights VI at its hard cap of €400 million.

Paris - Following 3 consecutive years of decline, the valuations of private mid-market companies in the Euro Zone rose to 6.4x EBITDA, an increase of 7% compared to their previous level.

Paris - Buffet Crampon, N° 1 European manufacturer of musical instruments and world leader in clarinets, owned by the Argos Wityu funds, announces the acquisition of Schreiber and Keilwerth, one of the highest internationally reputed German musical instrument manufacturers.

Paris – The Argos Wityu Group and the Argos Expansion management team are happy to announce the first closing, at 45 million Euros, of their new fund, Argos Expansion.

Paris - The funds managed by Argos Wityu announce the acquisition of Transports Roullé by the Groupe Mertz.

Milan - Argos Wityu announces the acquisition of Termoindustriale Group through a full-equity Management Buy Out transaction, the objective being to support an important business development plan.

Paris - On 11 June 2010, Solving Efeso concluded a critical agreement with the Argos Wityu investment fund, which will enable it to impart renewed momentum to its growth strategy and strengthen its financial position. This agreement includes the refinancing of its Oceane bond issue, due to mature in January 2012.

Paris – ARGOS WITYU announces the latest release of the Argos Mid-Market Index for H2 2009 - Decline in unlisted mid-market valuations slows : suggesting improvement ?

has sold its stake in Kägi, a Swiss food processing company, to an undisclosed Swiss industrial family.

Paris – ARGOS WITYU, FFH Conseil, and shareholder managers today announced the sale of Dinno Santé to the Health division of Air Liquide.

Geneva – Argos Wityu announces the acquisition of a majority stake in MISAPOR, the leading foam glass granulate producer in Europe through an MBO.

Paris – ORSYP, leading provider of enterprise IT automation and ITSM software and services, owned by Argos Wityu funds and management, announced the acquisition of Sysload Software, an emerging leader in Data Center Performance and Capacity Management.

Paris – ARGOS-SODITIC, lower mid-market private equity firm Argos Wityu has been named “Western Europe Private Equity House of the Year” by ACQ Finance Magazine.

Paris – ROC-ECLERC, N° 2 in funeral services in France, announces the nomination, on 2^nd April 2009, of Sandrine Thiéfine, 42, as General Manager of Groupe ROC-ECLERC and member of the Board of Funéraires Développements SAS.

Mantes la Ville – Buffet Crampon, the European leader for musical instruments and global leader for clarinets, has received €1 million from its main shareholder, the investment fund advised by Argos Wityu. Antoine Beaussant, Chairman of the Group’s Executive Board, also participated in the transaction. This capital injection is designed to enable the Buffet Crampon group to develop a new production line of 20,000 clarinets per year which will be located in Mantes la Ville and La Couture-Boussey. This ultramodern production line will manufacture the group’s new top-of-the-range practice clarinet the “E11 France” model.

Argos Wityu announces the sale of Jaybeam Wireless, a manufacturer of radio-communications equipment. The acquirer is the US group Amphenol which is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of connectors. Amphenol is listed in the United States and is on the S&P 500 index (NYSE: APH). Jaybeam Wireless was acquired in June 2007 as part of Argos Wityu’s MBO of Financière Harlé Bickford & Co. (FHB), a French family-owned group active in both pyrotechnics and radio-communications. Jaybeam Wireless specialises in the manufacture of antennae for mobile networks. The company has three production sites: Amboise in France, Wellingborough in the UK, and Hickory in the United States.

Milan – Argos Wityu, announces the acquisition through a BIMBO of BELLCO, the Renal Care division of Sorin Group - a company listed on the Milan Stock Exchange.

Paris, le 01 octobre 2008 - Les fonds Argos Wityu annoncent une prise de participation majoritaire au sein du groupe LEXSI (Laboratoire d’Expertise en Sécurité Informatique) au travers d’un MBO. Leader français en sécurité des systèmes d’information, et spécialiste dans la prévention des risques liés aux environnements informatique et téléphonique, le groupe LEXSI rejoint ainsi un groupe de Capital Investissement européen et indépendant de poids ; Joël Rivière, fondateur et président actuel, ainsi qu’un pôle de managers investissent dans le groupe.

La transaction confirme la poursuite d’une stratégie de build-up et de fort développement de la franchise Paris, le 9 septembre 2008 – GROUPE ROC-ECLERC, le premier réseau national de services funéraires en franchise, annonce l’acquisition de la Compagnie Funéraire Financière (CFF), l’un de ses franchisés basé en Île-de-France. Avec 421 magasins franchisés, un chiffre d’affaires déployé de l’ordre de 120 M€, et une part de marché de 10 %, ROC-ECLERC est connu pour ses services «qualité au juste prix.» avec des tarifs généralement inférieurs à ceux de la concurrence. Aujourd’hui, l’enseigne profite d’une forte notoriété et a contribué largement au développement et à la déréglementation de la profession des services funéraires.

Paris, le 18 février 2008 – Le Groupe Mertz annonce l’arrivée de Léonard de La Seiglière comme nouveau Président du Directoire dans le cadre du MBI réalisé par Argos Wityu fin janvier 2008. Avant de rejoindre le Groupe Mertz, Léonard de La Seiglière, 44 ans, était Directeur Général de la branche Aftermarket pour les réseaux indépendents du groupe Valeo. Il a également travaillé chez Michelin comme responsable de business unit dans différents pays européens. Fort de son expérience dans le secteur automobile, Léonard de La Seiglière devient Président du Directoire du Groupe Mertz, tandis que Jérôme Begey conservera sa fonction actuelle de Directeur opérationnel tout en étant nommé au Directoire. Jean-Maurice Mertz, membre de la famille fondatrice du groupe et ancien actionnaire, accompagnera le Groupe en qualité de membre du Comité de surveillance.

Geneva, Euroknights IV, an investment fund advised by Argos Wityu, an independent European private equity firm, has sold Maillefer Extrusion SA, a Swiss cable machinery producer, to Alpha Groupe in a secondary buyout for an undisclosed amount.

Paris, les fonds gérés par Argos Wityu annoncent l’acquisition du Groupe Mertz aux côtés d’un nouveau dirigeant et de Jérôme Begey, actuel Directeur opérationnel.

Paris, le 9 janvier - Un nouveau fonds est en cours de levée pour répondre aux besoins du marché des entreprises européennes mid-market. ARGOS WITYU annonce la création d’un nouveau fonds : Argos EXPANSION.

Le 8 janvier - ORSYP, société leader sur le marché de la production informatique, annonce aujourd’hui une opération de MBO avec le groupe de Capital Investissement européen Argos Wityu.

Le 5 novembre -Les fonds ARGOS WITYU annoncent la reprise, à travers une opération de BIMBO, de Marie Laure PLV, et signent ainsi leur cinquième opération en 2007. Le montant de la transaction n’a pas été divulgué.

Le 13 juillet Argos Wityu, groupe de capital investissement européen indépendant, annonce le succès d’un placement privé accéléré avec construction d’un livre d’ordres auprès d’investisseurs institutionnels français et étrangers de 51,86 % du capital de la société Du Pareil Au Même, l’un des tout premiers spécialistes français du vêtement pour enfants

Le 27 juin Argos Wityu annonce le rachat en MBO de Financ!ère Harlé Bickford, un conglomérat familial diversifié dans le domaine de la pyrotechnie (sous le nom de Davey Bickford) et des radiocommunications (sous le nom de Jaybeam Wireless) et possédant un patrimoine immobilier.

Le 28 mai - Les fonds gérés par Argos Wityu, et Antoine Héral annoncent la reprise de la société Chronolyss, fondée en 1992 par Peter Wyser.

Paris, le 21 mai - Argos Wityu annonce le rachat en LBO de la société Alkan, filiale de MBDA France spécialisée dans les systèmes d’emport et d’éjection.

Paris, le 29 mars - Les fonds d’investissement Euroknights IV, conseillés par Argos Wityu, annoncent la cession de la majorité du capital de KERMEL à Barclays Private Equity France, qui devient, aux côtés de l’équipe de management, l’actionnaire de référence du groupe.

Le 17 janvier - Argos Wityu annonce l’acquisition des divisions Chimie fine et Colorants du groupe Orgasynth, aux côtés de David Simonnet et Pierre Beaugrand, respectivement Directeur Général et Directeur Général Industriel.

Milan, le 12 juillet - Les fonds d’investissement Euroknights V gérés par Argos Wityu se sont portés acquéreurs de GPP Industrie Grafiche S.r.L. (“GPP”), une des sociétés leader en Italie de l’industrie papetière et de cartonnage pour l’emballage et le conditionnemen

Le 1er juin - Dépassant l’objectif qu’il s’était fixé, ARGOS WITYU annonce le 2ème closing de son nouveau fonds Euroknights V à 267 M€.

Le 10 mai - Les fonds d’investissements gérés par Argos Wityu se sont portés acquéreurs du Groupe Sitour, aux côtés de l’équipe de managemen

Paris, le 4 janvier - Buffet Crampon annonce la clôture du rachat de la société Courtois Paris. Suite à l’opération finalisée ce jour, la prestigieuse marque d’instruments cuivres Antoine Courtois, reconnue dans le monde entier, entre dans le groupe.

Paris, le 13 juin - Buffet Crampon, leader mondial du marché de la clarinette, est heureux d’annoncer que la société créée en 1825 à Paris a retrouvé son indépendance, à travers la reprise en MBO de la société Buffet Crampon par son Directeur Général, Paul BARONNAT, accompagné des fonds d’Argos Wityu.

Milan, le 7 juin - Les fonds conseillés par Argos Wityu ont repris début juin CH&F (Catering Hotelerie & Foodservices S.p.A.), une société italienne spécialisée dans la distribution alimentaire destinée aux professionnels (hôtels, restaurants, catering), dans le cadre d’un projet de « buy and build ».

Paris, le 2 juin - Aux termes d’un Contrat d’Acquisition d’Actions conclu, en date du 1er juin 2005, entre LAFUMA d’une part, la société TEAHUPOO (filiale de fonds d’investissements conseillés par ARGOS WITYU) et certains cadres dirigeants actionnaires d’OXBOW d’autre part, LAFUMA a acquis, le 2 juin 2005 2.409.291 actions OXBOW, société cotée sur l’Eurolist d’Euronext Paris (compartiment C) représentant 63,70% du capital et 63,92% des droits de vote au prix de 10,75 euros par action.

Paris, le 12 mai -La société Funéraires Développements s’est portée ce jour acquéreur de Groupe Roc-Eclerc, propriétaire de la marque funéraire Roc-Eclerc créée et développée depuis près de 20 ans par Monsieur Michel Leclerc.