Carlyle buys into B2B with Companeo
Published Monday, 26 July 2010 in Mid Market.
The Carlyle Group has acquired Paris-based B2B group Companeo alongside the company’s founders and management team for an undisclosed sum. Alven Capital and SGPA, which had already invested in the company, will retain a minority stake.
The deal was funded with debt from Société Générale, BNP Paribas and LCL. Equity was invested from Carlyles €530m Carlyle Europe Technology Partners II fund.
Companeo is Europe’s largest online B2B lead generator. Through its online marketplace, Companeo brings together more than 700,000 SMEs and more than 4,000 agreed suppliers across the UK, France, Belgium and the Netherlands. The business has offices in London, Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels. It has 700,000 registered users and has processed more than two million requests for quotes to date.
The business was founded by chief executive Laurent Horowitz, who will stay on with the company following the deal.
