Crédit Agricole Private Equity invests €4 million in oclio

For immediate release – October 11, 2010

Founded in 2003 and attracting over 350,000 visitors per month, oclio.com is leading the fast growing French online baby product market, offering products for the well-being, comfort and safety of kids aged from 0 to 4. On top of it, oclio offers a wide range of furniture, diapering, first age toys, baby food as well as natural and organic products. The website targets new parents and sells 6,500 products from 170 major brands. oclio sells products in France and in Europe, having launched websites in Italy and Spain in 2009.

After joining the French e-commerce federation FEVAD in February, this first round of financing is a new step ahead for oclio. The amount raised will strengthen the site’s development and will position oclio as the leading online retailer of baby products.

“We are delighted to welcome a shareholder as prestigious as Crédit Agricole Private Equity. This round of financing will enable oclio to write its next chapter and continue to grow with confidence. Online baby products is a fast-growing market and this financial support will help us to stay ahead of the competition by extending our catalogue, developing new services and stepping up our expansion in Southern Europe,”
comment Isabelle and Laurent Censier, co-founders of oclio.

Michel de Lempdes, Director within the Venture Capital team at Crédit Agricole Private Equity, adds: “We were extremely impressed by the experience and pragmatism of the two founders, who have managed continually to combine growth and profitability. oclio’s business model also benefits from two structural strengths related to the baby products’ market: its particularly high conversion and repeat order rates. Our investment should enable oclio to pursue its international expansion and to enlarge its product range.”

Crédit Agricole Private Equity representatives
Michel de Lempdes, Director, Venture Capital, Crédit Agricole Private Equity
Xavier Brunaud, Associate, Venture Capital, Crédit Agricole Private Equity

Crédit Agricole Private Equity legal advisor: ReedSmith
Lucas d’Orgeval, partner
Grégory Camus

Oclio legal advisor: CPC Associés
Jean-Yves Connesson
Christian Chevalier

Fundraising advisor: BluePrint Advisors
Eric Plantier
Marc Chancerel

Crédit Agricole Private Equity financial due diligence: Ernst&Young
Emmanuel Picard
François Poncet

About Crédit Agricole Private Equity

Crédit Agricole Private Equity is an AMF-accredited asset-management subsidiary of Crédit Agricole, specialising in direct private-equity investment in non-listed companies.
A multi-specialist player, Crédit Agricole Private Equity’s team of 95 professionals manages €3 billion with specific expertise in LBO & Expansion, Venture Capital, Mezzanine, Co-Investment, Renewable Energy and PPP Infrastructure.
The 12-strong venture capital team manages €430 million through FCPIs invested in young companies with high growth potential in 2 sectors: information technology and life sciences.
Crédit Agricole Private Equity has signed up to the United Nations’ Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI).
www-rec.omnescapital.com

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