Press release
Paris, 16 November 2021
LBO France announces the purchase of a majority stake in Alliance Marine
LBO France has taken a majority stake in French company Alliance Marine, alongside the management team led by Jean-Paul Roche, to increase the company’s position on its markets.
Alliance Marine is the expert in third-party and proprietary equipment and spare parts, for renovation and maintenance in the boating and marine industry sectors. With 650 employees and a portfolio of more than 500 brands, Alliance Marine is not only the undisputed industry leader in France but also in Europe, where it has a nearly 10% market share with revenues in excess of €210m. Following several external growth transactions, the group, created in 1999, is now made up of 18 operational companies including Accastillage Diffusion, Ocean-Safety and Typhoon Bukh-Bremen, Forniture Nautiche Italiane, Kent, Plastimo, Vidal Diffusion Marine-Rey, and Seimi. The group is pursuing its international development with the recent acquisitions of Dismarina, Navinordic, and 12Seemeilen.
Investment bank Natixis Partners had been selected by Weinberg Capital Partners for the market launch of their stake and the bidding process with majority-only investment funds.
LBO France’s investment means that Weinberg Capital Partners, which had taken a majority stake in the company in 2016, can exit. The management team, led by Jean-Paul Roche, is reinvesting alongside LBO France, marking their alignment on growth and value creation drivers.
Jérôme Guez of LBO France comments:
“By supporting Alliance Marine in its second LBO, LBO France has chosen a premium partnership with the French and European leader in equipment distribution for leisure boating and the marine industry. We are thoroughly convinced that this is a resilient market and by the robustness of its business and logistics, driven by its founder since 1999. Alliance Marine shows a great potential to consolidate its offering and its presence in Europe, by pursuing strategic acquisitions all along the value chain.”
Jean-Paul Roche, CEO of Alliance Marine, adds:
“In the past few years, Alliance Marine has resized while maintaining the balances that optimise its model, with high after-market exposure, a diversified presence on the recreational boating and professional marine markets, and a competitive portfolio of its own brands. We are pleased to continue our development alongside LBO France which, in addition to its reputation in private equity, has acquired great expertise in specialised distribution.”
PR – LBO France announces the purchase of a majority stake in Alliance Marine _16112021