Press release
Paris, 22 September 2022
This round of funding from reputable investors will enable the ClubFunding Group, which comprises seven subsidiaries (ClubFunding, ClubFunding AM, CF Invest, CF Profina, CF Gestion, CF2C and CIGR) and employs almost 150 people, to continue its roll-out in Europe and the development of new offerings. With growth forecast to reach 120% by 2021, the Group has consolidated its leadership position.
Strong ambitions in Europe and internationally
By investing in Europe's largest property crowdfunding platform, Florac Investissements, Peninsula Capital, EMZ Partners and Bpifrance are seeking to support the development of a hyper-growth market.
Internationally, the group has strong ambitions, initially in European border countries such as Benelux, Germany and Spain, where it has already financed several projects.
"Our ambition is to continue to make financing the real economy simpler, more fluid and more secure thanks to digital technology. Since the start of the year, we have already begun to develop our model in border countries. Financing international projects is no longer reserved for a privileged few. Our 15,000 individual investors are particularly keen to invest in Europe in order to diversify their assets, from as little as €1,000", says David Peronnin, Chairman of ClubFunding Group.
ClubFunding Group is now looking to establish a long-term presence in Europe through organic or external growth. "The new European approval for crowdfunding opens the door to other markets. Thanks to the supervision of the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF), France is a pioneer in the sector. The rigour of our processes, combined with our technology, means that we can cope with the exponential growth in volumes in Europe", explains David Peronnin.
Greater diversification of investment solutions
This fund-raising will also enable the Group to continue developing new offerings. Following the successful launch in 2021 of its management company and first investment fund dedicated to real estate, the Group plans to create new secure investment products accessible from a single platform. To date, ClubFunding Group has financed 700 projects (€800 million) on its property crowdfunding platform, with over 300 projects already repaid.
"We were impressed by the quality and professionalism of the team of entrepreneurs assembled by David Peronnin, the dynamic growth of the Group and the high level of satisfaction of its property operator and investor customers. The Group has a number of growth drivers at its disposal: increasing penetration of participative financing, strengthening of its local presence in France and neighbouring countries, and development of its other businesses through organic growth and acquisitions", say Léopold Meyer, Managing Director of Florac, and Javier de la Rica, co-founder of Peninsula.
Francis Estellat, Deputy Director at Bpifrance, commented: "We were impressed by the strategic vision of the management team, which has succeeded in winning the loyalty of a large community of investors by regularly offering innovative investment solutions that are a source of growth for the Group." "We look forward to helping David and the entire management team write the next chapters of this great adventure, alongside our co-investors," concluded Charles Mercier and Ludovic Bart of EMZ.
Participants in the operation
- ClubFunding Group
- Florac Investissements
- Peninsula Capital
- EMZ Partners
- Bpifrance (Francis Estellat, Mathilde Meunier Garcia)
Advice from ClubFunding Group
Financial advisor: Cambon Partners
Legal: Hogan Lovells
Financial audit: Eight Advisory
Tax structuring: Arsène Taxand
Advice from investors
Legal: Linklaters, Moncey, Solferino Associés
Strategic audit: Kanberi Strategy, Ares & Co
Financial and property audit: KPMG, Exelmans
Legal, tax and employment audit: KPMG Avocats, Moncey
About ClubFunding Group
ClubFunding Group is a diversified group specialising in financial services.
Built on the solid foundations of a family business established in 1994, the Group was transformed in 2014 with the arrival of David Peronnin and the creation of ClubFunding. Very quickly, the company became the centre of gravity of a hyper-growth ecosystem.
Today positioned in five business areas (real estate crowdfunding, overseas investment, asset management, debt collection and repurchase and real estate investment), the Group has raised more than €360 million by 2021.
The team is made up of almost 150 employees spread evenly across 7 subsidiaries (ClubFunding, ClubFunding AM, CF Invest, CF Profina, CF Gestion, CF2C and CIGR).
Find out more : https://www.clubfunding-group.com/a-propos/
About Florac
Florac is an investment company chaired by Marie-Jeanne Meyer, a long-standing shareholder in the Louis Dreyfus group, and managed by Léopold Meyer.
Florac invests unit amounts of between €20m and €100m alongside strategic partners, founders or managers, in companies with strong long-term growth potential. Since its creation in 2009, Florac has supported more than 30 companies as a majority or minority shareholder, in France, Europe and the United States.
Its family shareholding and flexible investment horizon enable it to support companies over the long term. Florac has offices in Paris and Los Angeles.
For further information, please visit : www.florac.eu
A propos de Peninsula Capital
Peninsula Capital is a pan-European private equity fund with €1.6 billion of assets under management.
Peninsula is a long-term investor focused on value creation, supporting the international ambitions of managers and founders of companies with solid fundamentals and sustainable competitive advantages.
Since 2016, thanks to the flexibility of its investment philosophy, Peninsula has acquired 15 majority and minority stakes, supporting European companies in a wide range of sectors including distribution, industry, transport, technology, healthcare and financial services.
For further information, please visit : http://www.peninsulacapital.co.uk
About EMZ Partners
Based in Paris and Munich, EMZ's professionals have made 148 investments since 1999, totalling €4.5 billion.
EMZ invests with SME managers to support them in taking control of their company or to finance strategic external growth operations. EMZ operates in France, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, investing between €10m and €200m.
For more information, visit : www.emzpartners.com/
About Bpifrance
Bpifrance's equity investments are made by Bpifrance Investissement. Bpifrance finances companies - at every stage of their development - through loans, guarantees and equity. Bpifrance supports them in their innovation and international projects. Bpifrance also supports their export activities through a wide range of products. Advice, universities, networking and acceleration programmes for start-ups, SMEs and ETIs are also part of the services offered to entrepreneurs. Thanks to Bpifrance and its 50 regional offices, entrepreneurs benefit from a single, close and efficient point of contact.