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04/2016

LOOPING GROUP acquired by APHEON (EX ERGON) & BPIFRANCE

FRANCE Hospitality & Leisure / Leisure Facilities EV 100M - 350M EUR

Context

Ergon Capital, in partnership with Bpifrance, has completed the acquisition of a majority stake in Looping Group from H.I.G. Capital. The transaction marks the second leveraged buyout for the group since its inception and is designed to support the next phase of its European expansion. The management team, which has been instrumental in the group's rapid development, remains a significant shareholder and will continue to execute its successful acquisition-led growth strategy. The deal was supported by a senior debt package structured to provide the group with the necessary flexibility for capital expenditures and future bolt-on acquisitions. The strategic rationale for the investment is to consolidate the group's position as a leading regional leisure park operator in Europe by integrating new sites and improving the operational performance of the existing portfolio through best-practice sharing and centralized strategic support.

It is worth noting that the fund Hig Capital took control of Looping Group through an LBO in 2011.

LOOPING GROUP, which reported an EBITDA margin of in 2015, is valued in this transaction at an EV/EBITDA multiple of , representing a to the average currently observed in the Retail & Consumer sector (11.2x).

-> Deep-dive in Retail & Consumer market trends

Target

Looping Group is a leading European operator of regional leisure parks, managing a diverse portfolio of eighteen sites including theme parks, aquariums, animal parks, and water parks across eight countries. The company’s business model centers on a "proximity and authenticity" strategy, targeting local families and tourists with accessible, high-quality entertainment. Key assets include the Zoo de la Flèche and Bagatelle in France, as well as Drayton Manor in the UK. The group’s value proposition is built on an active buy-and-build platform, acquiring well-established local brands and enhancing their performance through targeted investments in new attractions, high-end accommodation (lodges), and improved digital ticketing and catering services. By focusing on essential leisure activities near urban centers, Looping maintains high customer loyalty and a resilient revenue stream across diverse European geographies.

Ent. Value

Equity Value

Multiples

EV / Revenue

EV / EBITDA

EV / EBIT

Historical Financials (EUR)

Year
Rev
EBITDA
EBIT
2015
2014

Other operations with LOOPING GROUP

List of similar M&A transactions (Date, Acquirer, Target, Country, Sub-sector)
DateAcquirerTargetCountrySector
05/2023PAI PARTNERSLOOPING GROUPFRANCELeisure Facilities
10/2019MUBADALALOOPING GROUPFRANCELeisure Facilities
01/2011HIG CAPITALLOOPING GROUPFRANCELeisure Facilities

REFERENCES

Valuation range: EV 100M - 350M EUR

Revenue range: 50M - 100M EUR

EBITDA range: 5M - 25M EUR

Note: This page provides detailed data on a private equity M&A transaction. Detailed and exact financial metrics for the acquisition of LOOPING GROUP by APHEON (EX ERGON) / BPIFRANCE are reserved for mynth community members. Register for free to unlock full data.

Authors: This transaction was contributed by a verified mynth contributor and cross-checked against available transaction documents and official company communications.

Press release: view release

Target: looping group

Acquirer: bpifrance / apheon (ex ergon)