Category: Deals

Kapsera, a Bordeaux-based start-up specialising in agricultural biotechnology, has announced that it has raised €4.2 million to further develop its innovative microencapsulation technology aimed at improving the efficiency of sustainable agriculture. Joffe & Associés (Thomas Saltiel, Océane Christmann & Clémence Bressolin) advised the Banque des Territoires (on behalf of the French government as part of France 2030) and The Yield Lab Europe.

 

The funding, led by Banque des Territoires and The Yield Lab Europe, will help the company to build up its industrial capacity and launch its first production units in 2025. Kapsera’s technology, which uses biodegradable materials to improve the efficiency of natural agricultural inputs, promises significant improvements in crop protection and fertilisation, particularly for vineyards.

 

The capital raised will be used to set up production units and reach a target of 200 tonnes per year by 2027. In addition to the aforementioned agricultural applications, the technology should also be applied to human and animal nutrition. This follows promising results from trials in which Kapsera demonstrated its ability to reduce insect damage, while improving grape harvests through microencapsulated solutions. The first unit should be operational in 2025 at the company’s current premises in the Bordeaux Lac district.

 

Kapsera’s leadership in this field could create significant employment opportunities, with the company planning to hire 20 people over the next two years. The company’s innovation places it at the forefront of sustainable farming practices, with a strong focus on ecological and economic growth.

 

‘This round of financing marks a decisive step in Kapsera’s development. It will enable us to begin our industrialisation phase, to support our customers in their commercial ambitions and in their desire to offer high-performance, sustainable and healthy solutions to their markets’, says Antoine Drevelle, CEO and co-founder of Kapsera, speaking to La French Tech Bordeaux magazine. ‘We are delighted to welcome two new visionary investors who share our ambition to accelerate the transition to sustainable agriculture and healthy food. They join our long-standing shareholders as well as the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region and Bpifrance. Together, we’re going to meet the major challenges facing the food of tomorrow.

ChapsVision, a French player specialising in digital transformation and data management, is accelerating its development in the field of artificial intelligence with the acquisition of Sinequa, a company renowned for its AI-based search and analysis solutions. Joffe & Associés (Thomas Saltiel, Camille Malbezin, Charlotte Viandaz and Alexia Guyot) advised SINEQUA and the sellers on this transaction.

 

This strategic acquisition consolidates ChapsVision’s position as a major player and strong competitor in the information technology sector, often compared to the emblematic Palantir, but with a European and sovereign approach. At the same time, the company closed a third round of financing, for an amount close to €85 million, with its historic investors (Tikehau Capital, a specialist in alternative asset management, Qualium Investissement, Bpifrance and GENEO Capital), as well as its new investor, Jolt Capital. Joffe & Associés (Thomas Saltiel, Camille Malbezin, Charlotte Viandaz and Alexia Guyot) advised JOLT on this transaction.

 

The integration of Sinequa into the ChapsVision portfolio will merge Sinequa’s advanced data analytics capabilities with ChapsVision’s business solutions. This move is part of an overall strategy to create an integrated data monetization platform for regulated sectors such as finance and defence, while affirming a strong commitment to technological sovereignty.

 

With this acquisition, ChapsVision has strengthened its position in the European AI market, consolidating a unique expertise that should enable it to become ‘the European benchmark publisher in massive data processing’, according to BPI France.

 

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ADVISORS :

•  Sinequa shareholders

• M&A : Joffe & Associés (Thomas Saltiel, Camille Malbezin, Charlotte Viandaz et Alexia Guyot)
• Advisory bank (M&A): Clipperton

 

• ChapsVision 

• Conseils due diligence : E&Y (Juridique), Grant Thornton (Finance, Social et Fiscal)
• M&A : Valther Avocats (Idris Hebbat, Thibault Germain)
• Strategy : Altman Solon
• Tax : Arsène Taxand
• Fiance : Accuracy

 

• Historic investors in Chapsvision: Qualium Investissement, Tikehau, Bpifrance and GENEO Capital

• M&A : Goodwin Law, Willkie Farr & Gallagher, Proskauer Rose LLP

 

• New Chapsvision investors: Jolt Capital

• M&A : Joffe & Associés (Thomas Saltiel, Camille Malbezin, Charlotte Viandaz et Alexia Guyot)

 

OpenAirlines, a world leader in fuel-saving solutions for aircraft pilots, has announced a €45 million round of financing to accelerate its global expansion and reduce the carbon footprint of aviation. Joffe & Associés (Thomas Saltiel, Antoine Lamy, Rudy Diamant & Clément Peillet) advised MIROVA on this transaction.

 

This transaction, led by Eiffel Investment Group and supported by Mirova and Caisse de Retraite du Personnel Navigant (CRPN), will enable the company to step up its expansion in North America and Asia, and strengthen its portfolio of solutions dedicated to the ecological transition. Founded in 2006 by Alexandre Feray, the company has been profitable since 2021, with annual growth of 30%. Its flagship product, SkyBreathe, analyses flight data using artificial intelligence to optimise fuel consumption, reducing CO₂ emissions per flight by 3% to 5%.

 

SkyBreathe has already analysed more than 15 million flights for airlines such as Air France, EasyJet and Korean Air, saving 420,000 tonnes of fuel and avoiding the emission of 1.4 million tonnes of CO₂ by 2023. OpenAirlines is also innovating with SkyBreathe OnBoard, a real-time connected application to optimise pilots’ in-flight decisions based on variables such as the weather. At the same time, the company is developing tools for air traffic controllers and ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) solutions to help airlines meet growing regulatory requirements.

 

With this round of funding, OpenAirlines aims to triple its sales in five years, notably through strategic acquisitions. The company also plans to recruit 25 additional employees, on top of its current 95 staff spread between Toulouse, Hong Kong, Montreal and Miami. OpenAirlines is thus positioning itself as a key player in the ecological transition in aviation, offering efficient alternatives to sustainable fuels to achieve the sector’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.

Find the official press release here.

 

The PILOCAP group, a leader in professional training, announces the acquisition of the SCAF France and ODF training centres. Joffe & Associés (Aymeric Dégremont, Clémence Bressolin, Marie-Camille Degrugillier and Clément Peillet) advised the PILOCAP Group on these transactions.

 

The PILOCAP Group, which specialises in risk prevention training, recently strengthened its strategic development by acquiring SCAF France and ODF (Organisme de Développement de la Formation). These acquisitions follow the recent inauguration of the group’s training centres in Lille and Rennes, enabling it to extend its national coverage and offer a wider range of training courses, more in tune with current prevention and compliance requirements.

 

With these acquisitions and new locations, the PILOCAP Group is confirming its determination to become a key partner for French companies and local authorities. Building on its recent successes, the PILOCAP Group is strengthening its role as a benchmark in risk prevention, providing expertise, innovation and proximity to meet the challenges of the future.

Read the original CFnews article here.

 

Jolt Capital acquires the IP power management and signal processing activities of Dolphin Design. Joffe & Associés (Thomas Saltiel, Camille Malbezin, Alvyn Gobardhan, Joanna Verissel & Clémence Bressolin) advised Jolt Capital on this transaction.

 

Jolt Capital has acquired the IP activities of Dolphin Design via a new company, Dolphin Semiconductor, and has committed to invest €26 million in the business. The deal will enable Jolt Capital to consolidate its position in the advanced semiconductor market, building on Dolphin’s expertise in IP for mixed-signal semiconductors, renowned for their energy efficiency and performance.

 

Under the leadership of Laurent Monge, Dolphin Semiconductor now aims to meet the growing demand for more energy-efficient solutions, particularly in key sectors such as automotive, IoT and industry. The company plans to invest progressively in technology development, strengthen its R&D and make targeted strategic acquisitions.

 

Soitec, which acquired Dolphin in 2018, is now looking to refocus and is letting the business continue to expand under the leadership of Jolt Capital. The new leadership aims to position Dolphin Semiconductor as a partner of choice for semiconductor manufacturers looking to integrate high-performance, energy-efficient components.

Read the original CFNews article here.

 

Pony, a start-up specialising in shared urban mobility, has just raised €23 million from Blast Club, Ademe Investissement, Colam Impact, La Poste Ventures and its historic investors. Joffe & Associés (Thomas Saltiel & Océane Christmann) advised Pony on this transaction.

 

Pony, a Bordeaux-based company and leader in the shared urban mobility market, has just raised €23 million in a Series B financing round. This strategic financing will enable the company to strengthen and expand its fleet of self-service bicycles and scooters, with a target of 30,000 units deployed in new towns and cities. Pony stands out for its innovative self-financing model, in which users can co-invest in the vehicles, an approach that is appealing to local authorities looking for sustainable mobility solutions.

 

This round of financing was backed by Blast Club, Ademe Investissement, Colam Impact and La Poste Ventures. The funds raised will enable the company to accelerate its expansion into additional cities, while improving its fleet management and vehicle geolocation technologies. Pony’s participative model, in which users can buy and hire bikes and scooters themselves, continues to gain in popularity thanks to its local and collaborative dimension.

 

Pony, which has already made its mark in cities such as Bordeaux and Angers, intends to play a leading role in transforming urban transport habits. With this round of funding, the company aims to respond to ecological challenges and provide alternatives to the private car, while increasing citizen involvement in the management of shared mobility.

 

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• Purchaser(s) or Investor(s) : BLAST.CLUB (BLAST CLUB) , Anthony Bourbon , ADEME INVESTISSEMENT , Karine Mérère , Sylvain Waserman , COLAM IMPACT , Marie-Capucine D’Epenoux , LA POSTE VENTURES , SMART LENDERS ASSET MANAGEMENT , Zola Bahoumina , Erich Bonnet , EPOPEE GESTION , DEMETER , NOUVELLE-AQUITAINE CO-INVESTISSEMENT (NACO)
• Acq. DD Financial : 2CFINANCE (2CGROUP) , Jacques Haccoun , Julien Solyjan , Germain Buquet , Antoine Naudo , Neil Tchoffo
• Fundraising Advice / Agent : CAMBON PARTNERS , Thomas Bertier , Nicolas Olivier, DIDIER AVOCATS

Jus Mundi, market leader in legal AI in Europe, announces a fundraising round of almost 20 million euros, led by True Global Ventures Opportunity Fund and Acton Capital, with the participation of FJ Labs and C4 Venture. Joffe & Associés (Thomas Saltiel, Rudy Diamant and Clémence Bressolin) advised Acton Capital on this transaction.

 

Present in over 80 countries and backed by more than 70 partnerships worldwide, Jus Mundi is carrying out a second tout de table of 20 million euros, following a fundraising round of over 9 million euros in 2021.

 

This French start-up has developed Jus AI, software designed to automate and simplify legal research. Leveraging advances in artificial intelligence, Jus Mundi enables law firms to improve efficiency, accuracy and productivity.

 

This Series B will enable the company to strengthen its teams, develop and market its solutions internationally (notably in the United States, Asia and the Middle East), while reinforcing its position as one of Europe’s best-funded start-ups specializing in legal IT.

 

Acton Capital believes Jus Mundi has the capabilities to become “the global leader in AI-based legal intelligence” in the Maddyness press release.

Find all the official information on CFnews here.

 

Neosilver, a company specializing in the fight against loss of autonomy and isolation among the elderly, has announced a €4 million round of financing from Mirova and Banque des territoires. Joffe & Associés (Thomas Saltiel, Charlotte Viandaz and Clémence Bressolin) acted as advisors to the two funds in this transaction.

 

The young company specializing in support for senior citizens has raised 4 million euros to accelerate its development. The fund-raising, led by Mirova Impact Life Essentials (MILE)1, which is making its first investment here, also includes Banque des Territoires, which is already heavily involved in companies committed to accessibility for the elderly. In 2022, with over 8,200 events organized, bringing together 67,000 participants, Neosilver plays an essential role in maintaining strong social ties and improving the physical and mental health of seniors.

 

Thanks to Banque des Territoires’ investment, Neosilver will be able to accelerate its development in France, Spain and Germany, while improving its digital platform. This investment reaffirms Banque des Territoires’ commitment to social innovation and to supporting local authorities in their projects to strengthen social cohesion.

 

“Neosilver was born out of our desire to create a company with a strong social impact, in response to the challenges of aging and the isolation of seniors. Today, we believe that all businesses should have an impact. It’s thanks in particular to the support of major players in the field of ageing well, and to the backing of Viva Lab, the Assurance Retraite gas pedal, that our project has gained such momentum in the region. We are very grateful to Mirova and La Banque des Territoires for their trust and support, which should enable us to pursue our development in France and internationally,” say Jean Hennequin and Omar Bennouna, Co-Founders & CEO of Neosilver, in the official press release from La Banque des Territoires.

Atawey: find official information on the company’s press release here.

 

Atawey, leader in hydrogen charging stations, announces the acquisition of McPhy’s charging station business, for a fixed price of 12 million euros. Joffe & Associés (Christophe Joffe, Thomas Saltiel, Alvyn Gobardhan, Rudy Diamant & Joanna Verissel, Clémence Bressolin, Sara Belliot & Irina Ratsimandresy) advised Atawey on this transaction.

 

With this acquisition, Atawey consolidates its position on the European market with a fleet of 70 stations, making it the European leader in hydrogen charging stations. The acquisition includes a production site capable of manufacturing over 80 stations a year, and the integration of 40 McPhy employees, bringing the total number of employees to 145.

 

Atawey also benefits from McPhy’s R&D expertise, reinforcing its know-how with over ten years’ experience and several patents. This operation significantly increases Atawey’s production capacity, enabling it to meet strong demand and aim for profitability.

 

Internationally, this acquisition helps Atawey to expand its range of services and enter new markets, with projects underway in Italy in particular. McPhy will continue to work with Atawey to ensure the success of projects and the performance of existing stations.

 

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• Purchaser: ATAWEY , Pierre-Jean Bonnefond , Jean-Michel Amaré, Lucile Milon
• [Purchaser] Investment banker: SG (EX SOCIÉTÉ GÉNÉRALE CIB) , Guillaume Dovillers , Nicolas Sanson
• [Purchaser] Lawyers: JOFFE & ASSOCIES , Christophe Joffe , Thomas Saltiel, Alvyn Gobardhan, Joanna Verissel & Rudy Diamant
• Vendor : MC PHY
• [Vendor] Investment banker: BNP PARIBAS CF
• [Seller] Lawyers: GIDE , Olivier Diaz , Elise Bernard , Charlotte Duval

Read the original article on the company’s LinkedIn page here.

 

Nutriearth, a pioneer in the manufacture of vitamin D3 from insects, announces that it has raised almost 8 million euros from historic investors such as Demeter and Nord France Ammorçage, as well as new investors Rev3 Capital, Holding Serthi and Captech Santé. Joffe & Associés (Thomas Saltiel, Océane Christmann and Alexia Guyot) advised Demeter, NFA, Cap Tech and REv3 Capital on this transaction.

 

According to CFNews, this fund-raising will finance the reinforcement of Nutriearth’s industrial infrastructure. It will also enable the company to pursue research and development, by supporting the filing of new patents; the company is also planning to increase its workforce to support these changes. Nutriearth plans to produce 120 tonnes this year, continuing to sell its insect meal on the animal feed market. It also hopes to obtain the necessary authorizations to market insect meal for human consumption in Europe from next year. It should be pointed out, however, that such marketing could already begin in the USA and Canada, where these products are authorized.

 

“I’m delighted that this round of financing will enable Nutriearth to become a major player in the global vitamin D3 market. Thanks to this support, we are now in a position to respond to major societal challenges such as our health and the preservation of our planet. We are proud to offer the world’s only natural, sustainable and highly absorbable source of vitamin D3. Let’s work together for a better future”, says Thomas Dormigny, co-founder of Nutriearth, in the official press release.

 

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Purchaser(s) or Investor(s) : DEMETER , NORD FRANCE AMORCAGE , BPIFRANCE INVESTISSEMENT , REGION HAUTS-DE-FRANCE , FONDS EUROPEEN DE DEVELOPPEMENT REGIONAL (FEDER) , REV3 CAPITAL (EX CAP3RI) , FINORPA GIE , BUSINESS ANGEL(S) , Thierry Letartre
Company Corporate Lawyer : BIGNON LEBRAY , Tanguy Dubly , François Vibert , Antoine Catala
Purchaser Corporate Counsel: JOFFE & ASSOCIES , Thomas Saltiel , Océane Christmann