News

ClubFunding Group, a French financial services specialist offering investment solutions to over 15,000 private and institutional investors, announces that Florac Investissements, Peninsula Capital, EMZ Partners and Bpifrance Investissement have acquired a minority stake from the group’s founders and leaders, who retain control of the group.

Raising funds from high-profile investors will enable ClubFunding Group, comprising seven subsidiaries (ClubFunding, ClubFunding AM, CF Invest, CF Profina, CF Gestion, CF2C and CIGR) and a workforce of close to 150, to continue its rollout across Europe and the development of new products and services. The group has strengthened its leading position after recording 120% growth in 2021.

Extensive ambitions in Europe and internationally
With their investment in Europe’s largest real-estate crowdfunding platform, Florac Investissements, Peninsula Capital, EMZ Partners and Bpifrance are looking to support the development of an extremely fast-growing market.

ClubFunding Group has significant ambitions for international growth, initially in neighbouring countries such as Benelux, Germany and Spain, where it has already financed a number of projects.

“Our ambition is to continue to use digital technologies to make financing the physical economy easier, more fluid and more secure. Since the start of this year, we have already started rolling out our model to neighbouring countries. Financing international projects is no longer something only accessible to a handful of insiders. Our 15,000 private investors are very interested in making investments in Europe to diversify their assets, with sums starting at just 1,000 euros,” says David Peronnin, ClubFunding Group president.

Looking ahead, ClubFunding Group will use organic or inorganic growth to establish a lasting European presence. “The new EU regulation on crowdfunding authorisation opens the doors to other markets for us. France is a pioneer in the sector, thanks to the supervisory role played by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF). Our rigorous processes combined with our technology give us the ability to handle exponential growth in European business,” he explains.

Greater diversification of investment solutions
This capital injection will also enable the group to continue to develop new products and services. After the successful launch in 2021 of its asset management company and an initial real estate investment fund, the group has plans to create new secure investment products accessible via a single platform. To date, ClubFunding Group has financed 700 projects worth €800 million via its real-estate crowdfunding platform, with over 300 projects already reimbursed.

“We were impressed by the quality and professionalism of the business-focused team David Peronnin has assembled, as well as by the group’s buoyant growth and the high levels of
satisfaction among its client base of real-estate professionals and investors. The group benefits from multiple growth drivers: the increasing market penetration of crowdfunding, a strengthened local presence in France and neighbouring countries, and expansion into new areas of business via organic or external growth,” explain Léopold Meyer, CEO of Florac, and Javier de la Rica, co-founder of Peninsula.

“We were won over by the strategic vision of the management team. They have developed a loyal following among a large community of investors by regularly offering innovative investment solutions that are a source of growth for the group,” adds Francis Estellat, Senior Investment Director at Bpifrance. “We are keen to get to work alongside David and the entire management team to write the next chapters of this exciting adventure, alongside our co-investors,” comment Charles Mercier and Ludovic Bart from EMZ.

Involved in the operation:
– ClubFunding Group
– Florac Investissements
– Peninsula Capital
– EMZ Partners
– Bpifrance Investissement (Francis Estellat, Mathilde Meunier Garcia)

Advisors to ClubFunding Group:
– Financial: Cambon Partners
– Legal: Hogan Lovells
– Financial audit: Eight Advisory
– Tax structuring: Arsène Taxand

Advisors to the investors:
– Legal: Linklaters, Moncey, Solferino Associés
– Strategic audit: Kanberi Strategy, Ares & Co
– Financial and real-estate audit: KPMG, Exelmans
– Legal, fiscal and social audit: KPMG Avocats, Moncey

Press contacts
Zakary Garaudet – zakary.garaudet@maarc.fr– 06 79 07 62 50
Ando Razakarisoa – ando.razakarisoa@maarc.fr – 06 61 84 78 55
Bpifrance
Sophie Santandrea – sophie.santandrea@bpifrance.fr – 01 45 65 51 62

About ClubFunding Group
ClubFunding Group is a diversified group that specialises in financial services.
Built on the solid foundations of a family company set up in 1994, the group was transformed in 2014 with the arrival of David Peronnin and the creation of ClubFunding. The company quickly developed to become the centre of an extremely fast-growing ecosystem.
Currently operating in five business areas (real-estate crowdfunding, investments in French
overseas possessions, asset management, debt purchase and recovery, and real-estate investments), the group collected in excess of €360 million in 2021.
The group’s workforce comprises almost 150 people, divided equally between all seven subsidiaries (ClubFunding, ClubFunding AM, CF Invest, CF Profina, CF Gestion, CF2C and CIGR).
For further information (in French only): https://www.clubfunding-group.com/a-propos

About Florac
Florac is a private equity firm chaired by Marie-Jeanne Meyer, historic shareholder of the Louis Dreyfus Group, and run by Léopold Meyer.
Florac makes individual investments in the €20 to €100 million range, working with strategic partners, founders and management at companies with strong prospects for long-term growth. Since it was founded in 2009, Florac has acquired minority or majority holdings in over 30 companies in France, Europe and the USA.
Its family ownership and flexible investment horizon mean that Florac can support companies over the long term. Florac has offices in Paris and Los Angeles.
For further information: www.florac.eu

About Peninsula Capital
Peninsula Capital is a pan-European private equity firm with assets of €1.6 billion under management.
Peninsula is a value-oriented long-term investor backing founders and managers of companies that have strong fundamentals, sustainable competitive leadership and international ambitions.
Its flexible investment philosophy has enabled Peninsula to acquire 15 majority and minority stakes since 2016, working with European companies in various sectors including retail, manufacturing, transport, technology, healthcare and financial services.
For further information: www.peninsulacapital.co.uk

About EMZ Partners
Based in Paris and Munich, the team at EMZ have made 148 investments since 1999 worth a cumulative €4.5 billion.
EMZ invests in SMEs and their management teams to help them take control of their business or to finance strategic operations for external growth. EMZ invests in markets that include France, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, with investment tickets in the €10 to €200 million range.
For further information: www.emzpartners.com

About BPI France
Bpifrance equity capital investments are managed by Bpifrance Investissement. Bpifrance finances companies at every stage of their development by providing loans, guarantees, assistance with innovation and equity capital along with support for their projects centring on innovations and international growth. Bpifrance also provides a wide range of export credit insurance services. Other services offered to entrepreneurs include consultancy, coaching, networking opportunities and accelerators for start-ups, SMEs and mid-caps. Bpifrance and its 50 regional offices offer entrepreneurs a one-stop service that is nearby, unique and efficient.
For further information: www.Bpifrance.fr – www.presse.bpifrance.fr – Follow us on Twitter: @Bpifrance – @BpifrancePresse