NEWS



  • 25/10/2018

    Linxis Group's dairy division is acquired by its management and Cerea Capital II

    Cerea Capital II, alongside the management and Unexo, has acquired, from Linxis Group, owned by the IK VIII Fund advised by IK Investment Partners, the three companies of its cheese and dairy division: Chalon-Mégard, Tecnal et Simon Frères.

    Linxis Group, formerly Bretèche Industrie, is a supplier of equipment for the agri-food, pharma and cosmetics industries. It has ceded the three companies of its dairy division to focus on its equipment activities for bakery and beauty/health sectors.

    The dairy division, renamed Synext Group, is the French leader in cheese equipment (for hard cheeses, such as Comté and Beaufort, as well as soft cheeses, such as Brie or Feta) and the global leader for butter equipment. Based in Niort, Montréal-la-Cluse and Cherbourg, France, the group has roughly 250 employees and sales of €M 50. Its clientele is divided between regional SMEs, cooperatives and large dairy groups across the world.

    Led by Jérôme Villard, and with the support of Cerea Capital, Synext Group is beginning a new phase of its development around the following axes:
    • strengthening synergies between the 3 entities;
    • completion of complementary external growth opportunities in the industry or to extend its geographical presence;
    • international development. 


    Antoine Peyronnet, Managing Director with Cerea Partners, declared:
    "We are very happy to support this French leader with recognized know-how and a highly motivated team in its growth and developing over the coming years."

    Jérôme Villard, President of Synext Group, added: "We are delighted to take our independence with Cerea Capital, enabling us to focus our efforts on the development of our markets and to seize external growth opportunities in France and abroad."

    Didier Soumet, President of Linxis Group, declared: "We are delighted with this transaction. With a dynamic management team and the support of Cerea Capita, a recognized partner in the agri-food sector, the group will fully focus on exporting its leading know-how."

    Jérémy Durand, Associate with UNEXO, concluded: "We are proud to participate in a new phase of development of Synext Group, for whom two out of three production sites are located in the Grand Ouest region of France, UNEXO's territory."

    Financing for the transaction was completed by Unitranche debt subscribed by Idinvest.

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