Omnes Capital announces a solid year in 2016 and sets out its development priorities for 2017

Omnes Capital, an independent multi-specialist in private equity and infrastructure investment, announces solid figures for 2016, illustrating ongoing growth since it became independent in 2012: €700 million invested in 92 new companies and €1.2 billion of divestments in five years.

In 2016, Omnes Capital achieved successes across all of its business lines.

Robust portfolio performance
With €167 million invested in 2016, Omnes Capital supported 13 new companies (in particular Bankin’, Mes Docteurs and Ducatillon). 2016 was a particularly busy year in terms of divestments, with 24 disposals representing €416 million – an increase of 58% compared with 2015. These include SIMP (4.9x), Nomios (4.8x) and Denyall (2x), as well as the sale of a portfolio of 100 MW of wind and solar energy assets developed in partnership with SMEs in the sector.
Omnes Capital achieved a gross IRR of 15% on the CACI fund (launched in 2005), which was fully divested in 11 years.

Dynamic fundraising
In the midcap segment, the fourth-generation Omnes Croissance 4 fund achieved a final closing at
€210 million, above its initial target of €180 million. Dedicated to investment in French SMEs, the fund has already made five investments (Cogepart, Bimedia, Capcom, Dispam and Circet) and one disposal (Capcom with an IRR of 95%).

Omnes Capital has reasserted its involvement and role as a frontrunner in energy transition with the launch of the Construction Energie Plus fund, with a target size of €100 million. This is the first French fund dedicated to financing the construction or renovation of high environmental performance public and private buildings in France. At the same time, the Capenergie 3 fund, dedicated to investment in renewable energy infrastructure projects in Europe, has exceeded its target size of €200 million (final closing planned for May 2017). It has also obtained the “Energy and Ecological Transition for the Climate” (Transition énergétique et écologique pour le climat, TEEC) label.

In the area of innovation, the FCPI Capital Invest PME fund collected €32 million in 2016 – an increase of 14% compared with 2015.

In 2017, Omnes Capital will capitalise on its market-leading expertise to pursue its investment strategy, with the desire to respond to changes in the market.

Serving the economy, Omnes Capital is currently a recognised name in the French market, supporting innovation, encouraging growth in SMEs and contributing to the energy transition.

Listening to the market, companies’ needs and investors’ expectations, Omnes Capital will continue in 2017 to raise funds in its core areas of expertise :

• In the innovation market, Omnes Capital focuses on the breakthrough technologies segment with its Omnes Real Tech fund. The fund’s aim is to build up a portfolio of 15-20 European start-ups developing breakthrough technologies in the fields of healthcare and manufacturing.
• The private debt market is growing at a rapid rate. Omnes Capital is continuing to raise funds via the Omnes Mezzanis 3 fund, the third-generation mezzanine fund dedicated to French SMEs. Omnes Capital focuses on the small and mid-market, a niche area that few companies are able to target and in which Omnes Capital has been present since 2002.
• Driven by France’s Grenelle environmental agreements and forthcoming energy efficiency regulations (“réglementation thermique” or RT) planned for 2018-20, the sustainable commercial property market has considerable financing needs. On the back of its 11 years of expertise in the area of energy transition, Omnes Capital has launched Construction Energie Plus, sponsored by PRO BTP. The fund’s aim is to form around 10 strategic partnerships with SMEs in order to develop target capacity of 500,000 m². The first deal was signed in January 2017 with the Carle Group.

Fabien Prévost, CEO of Omnes Capital, comments : “We are delighted with the lasting and controlled growth achieved in our activities since 2012. Omnes Capital is now more of a key player in the French market than ever, supporting innovation, encouraging growth in SMEs and contributing to the energy transition. Our ambitions are clear: to consolidate our position as a direct investor in France and Europe, capitalise on the strength of our multi-manager model and exceed €5bn of assets under management by 2020.”