IMPRIMERIE LAULAN acquired by ACTIVA CAPITAL

Schweitzer-Mauduit International (SWM), a U.S.-listed industrial group committed to diversifying its operations into specialty materials, has finalized the acquisition of Argotec, a U.S.-based specialist in thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) technical films, from private equity firm Wind Point Partners. Prior to the transaction, Argotec was owned by Wind Point Partners, which oversaw a growth phase marked by product portfolio expansion and geographic diversification into new markets, particularly in the medical and industrial sectors

The acquisition of Great Lakes Foam Technologies by Unique Fabricating is a strategic move to consolidate the industry and expand the group's technological offerings into polyurethane molding, while diversifying its sectoral reach beyond its historical exposure to the mass automotive market. This transaction enables the transfer of the target's customer base to the acquirer's broader sales force, leveraging the alignment of the two companies' profitability and growth profiles to generate immediate scale benefits

Unipex (owned by IK Investment Partners) sold its subsidiary Lucas Meyer Cosmetics to IFF. This "build-down" strategy allowed Unipex to monetize its most valuable asset. Following this sale, Unipex refocused solely on its distribution business in France/Benelux (which was later the subject of the 2019 transaction).

Initiative & Finance supported the management team of Pure Trade Worldwide in gaining independence from its parent company, The Brand Nation. This transformative spin-off allowed the CEO and his partners to take majority control of the capital, with Initiative & Finance acting as a minority financial partner.

Multi-Color Corporation has successfully completed the acquisition of Barat, a leading French wine label printer. The transaction involves the purchase of 100% of the company's shares from the private equity firm Cobalt Capital (which held a 55% majority stake), the founding Le Tellier family, and the management team led by Manuel Lenglet. This deal marks the exit of Cobalt Capital following a Buy-In Management Buy-Out (BIMBO) structured in 2010. By integrating Barat, MCC significantly strengthens its foothold in the strategic Bordeaux wine region, adding a high-quality manufacturing platform and over 200 skilled employees to its European network

Ardian, a leading private investment firm, has sold its majority stake in Novotema to IDEX Corporation, a US-listed company, marking a significant shift from a fund-managed ownership structure to a strategic integration within an industrial platform. Under Ardian's ownership since 2012, Novotema has successfully transformed from a small Italian business to a more robust international enterprise, having strengthened its sales force and enhanced the engineering capabilities of its design office. This transformation has enabled the company to diversify its customer base beyond its historical dependence on the domestic automotive market

The management of Safic-Alcan finalized the acquisition of a majority stake in the group from Parquest Capital. This transaction is a landmark "Management-led Buyout" (MBO) aimed at affirming the company’s independence by placing the founding executives at the center of the capital structure. The deal was supported by a pool of institutional investors providing long-term equity and mezzanine capital. The acquisition financing was underwritten and coordinated by HSBC and Natixis as Bookrunners, with Société Générale joining as Mandated Lead Arranger

Marking a significant milestone in its history, Gault & Frémont has undergone a major restructuring of its capital, with the exit of its historical shareholder, Eurazeo PME, and the entry of new investors, UI Gestion and the company's management team. This transaction represents an important step in Gault & Frémont's strategy of pursuing external growth, both in France and Europe. The company's investment thesis relies on its ability to leverage its expertise in paper and cardboard packaging solutions to drive expansion and improve its competitive positioning

Imerys has finalized an agreement to acquire S&B Industrial Minerals in a move designed to fundamentally transform its "filtration and performance additives" business. The strategic rationale for this transaction centers on a "market-leadership" play, merging the target's industry-leading technical operational depth in bentonite and perlite with the group’s established global distribution and mineral processing infrastructure. This structural alignment provides the organization with the scientific talent and logistical hardware—specifically across the target's Mediterranean and international mining assets—required to address the increasing complexity of metallurgy and environmental filtration

Funds advised by CVC Capital Partners have signed an agreement to acquire 100% of Paroc Group from its existing institutional shareholder group. The transaction marks a new growth phase for Paroc following a successful five-year period of organic expansion under its previous institutional owners. The strategic rationale for CVC is to capitalize on Paroc’s market-leading position in the Nordics and Baltics while supporting its expansion into high-growth regions like Russia. CVC intends to build upon Paroc’s recent success in its higher-value technical insulation division, which benefited from significant investment in the Trzemeszno facility in Poland