Amundi, BPI France, and Socadif Invest in Wifirst

October 14, 2019

Paris – Paul Hastings LLP, a leading global law firm, has advised Amundi Private Equity Funds, Bpifrance (through its ETI 2020 fund) and Socadif Capital Investissement in connection with the LBO of the Wifirst group, a transaction structured with the management team led by Mr. Marc Taieb.

Amundi Private Equity Funds, Bpifrance and Socadif Capital Investissement replace Bolloré group as majority stakeholder of Wifirst group, a Wifi internet provider installing and operating its networks. With an annual revenue of €49 million and an ebitda of €20 million in 2018, the Wifirst group has 140 employees. The Wifirst group has experienced during the last years a very strong growth, due to the significant development of its customer base in France and in Europe which led it to open offices in London and Barcelona.

Amundi Private Equity Funds, Bpifrance and Socadif Capital Investissement will support the Wifirst group’s organic growth, in particular through the development of the offer for private clinics and retirement homes, as well as its international expansion, especially in new geographies.

The Paul Hastings team was composed of corporate partners Olivier Deren and Sébastien Crepy with associates Stanislas Offroy and Moussa Mbodji, tax partner Allard de Waal with associates Thomas Pulcini and Olivia Sibieude, employment partner Stéphane Henry with associate Alexandre Ruiz and leveraged finance partner Olivier Vermeulen with counsel Marc Zerah and associates Louis Fearn and Yanniv Gilquel.

The management team of the Wifirst group was advised by Scotto Partners (partners Isabelle Cheradame and Jérôme Commerçon with counsel Xavier Colard and associates Adrien Badelon, Charlotte Hazan and Antonin Balsan), DLA Piper (partner Maud Manon with associates Julien Godlewski, Pierre Tardivo and Arnaud Riou) advising Pemberton for the unitranche financing.

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