Bryan, Garnier & Co advises Activa Capital on its Majority Invesment in Look, the Iconic Sport Brand
Paris, July 5th 2016 – Activa Capital has taken a majority stake in LOOK Cycle, alongside the existing owners, Dominique Bergin and Thierry Fournier, in order to accelerate its international expansion.
Bryan, Garnier & Co acted as financial advisor to ACTIVA CAPITAL in this transaction.
As the inventor and a world leader in clipless pedals, LOOK Cycle capitalises on 30 years of experience at the highest sporting level; as a leader in the field of carbon technology, LOOK Cycle also designs and manufactures exceptional bikes.
With a turnover of €45m and around 400 professionals, LOOK is one of the most innovative companies in the cycle sector. The company assigns more than 10% of its turnover to research and innovation with a portfolio of over 230 patents. LOOK has been awarded the trophy for the most innovative company in the sports sector.
With the arrival of Activa Capital, LOOK intends to capitalise on its strong position in Europe to accelerate its growth and its international development, in a sector which is enjoying sustainable growth. LOOK already generates 75% of its turnover outside of France. In association with Activa Capital, LOOK will accelerate its growth and play a key role as a consolidator.
Marc Goudemand, Director at Bryan, Garnier & Co stated: “LOOK is one of the most innovative and recognised brand in the cycle sector. We are proud to have advised ACTIVA CAPITAL in this transaction what we believe will be a very successful partnership. This transaction is an illustration of Bryan, Garnier & Co’s ability to provide expertise to private-equity players for investment in Specialty Retail & Branded Consumer Goods companies.”
Thibaut De Smedt, Partner at Bryan, Garnier & Co added: “This transaction illustrates Bryan Garnier’s will to further develop our market share in Specialty Retail & Branded Consumer Goods sectors. Our dedicated research team has developed a deep expertise in those industries by covering European stocks from emerging brands to established groups such as Adidas, Danone, Heineken, L’Oréal, LVMH, Luxottica, Salvatore Ferragamo and Tod’s.”
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About LOOK
Inventor of the automatic pedal, the first carbon frame and the first carbon monobloc track frame, LOOK Cycle is now a leading player in the design and manufacture of bikes and high-end accessories. Its know-how and technology have been rewarded many times, as much for its products as for its policy of innovation. Lead by Dominique Bergin (CEO) and Thierry Fournier (GM), LOOK employs around 400 people worldwide and has retained its head office and a production factory in Nevers. In 2014, LOOK notably won the three major world cycling events with its pedals (Giro d’Italia, Tour de France and Vuelta a España). lookcycle.com
About Activa Capital
Activa Capital is a leading French mid-market private equity firm. Activa Capital manages over €500m of private equity funds on behalf of a wide range of institutional investors. Activa Capital partners with ambitious mid-sized French companies, valued at €20m to €200m, seeking to accelerate their growth and their international footprint. activacapital.com
About Bryan, Garnier & Co
Bryan, Garnier & Co is an independent investment bank specialized in European growth companies, providing them with Equity Chartres & Brokerage, Asset Management and Corporate Finance services. With more than 150 professionals throughout London, Paris, Munich, New York, Geneva and New Delhi, Bryan, Garnier & Co combines the range of services and the expertise of top-tier investment banks with the level of attention to clients of a boutique. Bryan, Garnier & Co is a leading advisor to European growth companies on strategic finance transactions such as mergers & acquisitions, equity capital markets, LBOs and private placements. Bryan, Garnier & Co is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the United Kingdom, and is member of London Stock Exchange and Euronext, Alternext Listing Sponsor, and is active on all European capital markets.
In 2015, Bryan, Garnier & Co completed more than 35 transactions on European growth companies, including landmark transactions such as the acquisition of Metrologic from Carlyle, the sale of Codenomicon to Synopsis, the sale of cybersecurity Lexsi to Orange, the €25m private placement for Jahia, the IPOs of Bone Therapeutics or Amoeba on Euronext or Celyad and Galapagos on the Nasdaq.
In 2014 and 2015, Bryan, Garnier & Co was the most active investment bank involved in the IPO of European growth companies on the US Nasdaq. In December 2015, Bryan Garnier completed the acquisition of Cartagena Capital in Germany.