PIGUY GOLF CHALLENGE acquired by INSPIRING GROUP CAPITAL

Equistone Partners Europe has finalized the acquisition of a majority stake in Vertbaudet from Alpha Private Equity. The transaction marks a new chapter for the childhood specialist following a successful repositioning strategy initiated in 2015, which shifted the business from traditional mail-order to a digital-first platform. The executive team reinvested alongside Equistone to maintain operational continuity. The deal was completed on July 22, 2021, following the regulatory carve-out of Cyrillus (sold separately to MGA Paris)

Core Equity Holdings entered into exclusive negotiations to acquire a majority stake (~54%) in Provalliance. Franck Provost and his family, who had regained full control after Chequers Capital's exit in 2017, will retain the remaining ~46% of the capital. The transaction follows discussions initiated in 2019 but delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The deal is structured to support an aggressive external growth strategy (including a bid for competitor Dessange International) and the expansion of the Bleu Libellule distribution network

Eleven years after its founding in Annecy, the outdoor sports retailer Snowleader reports nearly EUR35 million in sales, with 40% coming from international markets. To support its growth (38% in 2019), the company raised EUR10 million from 123 IM, BNP Paribas Developpement, and Sofimac Regions. A minority portion of this funding allows for the exit of some shareholders who had invested EUR2.5 million at the end of 2015—namely Turenne CP, Bpi, and Expansinvest.

Ergon Capital acquired a majority stake in Haudecoeur through a Primary LBO (the first time the family opened its capital to a financial investor). The transaction was the result of an unsolicited offer orchestrated by Raphael Financial Advisory. The Haudecoeur family retained a significant minority stake and continued to be involved in the business. The deal structure included senior debt with specific "acquisition lines" to fund future external growth. The strategic goal is to transform this national champion into a European platform for ethnic foods

Equistone acquired 100% of Courir from Groupe Go Sport for an Enterprise Value of EUR283 million. This disposal was vital for Rallye, which was seeking to reduce its debt load. The transaction was structured as an MBO: the existing management team reinvested alongside Equistone to gain autonomy.

Ramphastos Investments, owned by Dutch billionaire Marcel Boekhoorn, acquired HEMA from Lion Capital in October 2018. The deal ended Lion's 11-year ownership since 2007 and positioned HEMA for renewed focus under domestic ownership. HEMA's scale (700+ stores, €1bn+ sales) and iconic Dutch status made it attractive despite losses (€31 million net loss 2017). Ramphastos targeted HEMA's e-commerce potential, international growth, and profitability recovery amid discounter competition. Boekhoorn's local expertise offered continuity after Lion's failed 2010/2018 sales

Ouest Croissance injected less than €5 million into Easy Cash to acquire a minority stake of slightly under 20%. This fundraising is specifically designed to accelerate the group's territorial density, focusing on opening new company-owned branches (subsidiaries) in the city centers of major French metropolises. The transaction also marks the entry of the network leader since 2010, into the capital structure. The historical founders based in Mérignac remain majority shareholders but accepted a slight dilution

Ardian, a leading private investment firm, entered into an agreement to acquire a majority shareholding in Prosol, the operator of the highly successful Grand Frais fresh food retail chain. This transaction marked a significant shift in ownership, as Prosol's founder, Denis Dumont, who had previously maintained a controlling interest, agreed to the preemptive offer from Ardian. The deal was structured as a leveraged buyout, signaling a new phase of development for the rapidly growing retailer. As part of the agreement, key stakeholders demonstrated their long-term commitment to the business, with both the founder and the existing management team, led by President Hervé Vallat, reinvesting alongside the new majority owner

JD Sports acquired 100% of Go Outdoors (>�200m of revenues) from its founders and private equity backers (YFM Equity Partners and 3i Group). The strategic rationale was purely about portfolio complementarity: while JD's existing brands (Blacks, Millets) dominated the traditional "High Street" locations with smaller footprints and higher price points, Go Outdoors dominated the "Out-of-Town" destination market with massive inventory and lower prices. There was minimal geographic overlap between the two estates

Maisons du Monde successfully completed its initial public offering (IPO) on Euronext Paris in May 2016, marking a key milestone in the group's evolution following several leveraged buyout (LBO) cycles. The transaction was structured as a global offering, combining a new share issue and a sale of existing shares by historical financial shareholders, including Bain Capital. The IPO raised approximately €330 million, with a fixed price of €17 per share, resulting in a market capitalization of around €769 million at the time of listing