Simpson Thacher Advises the Lenders on Unitranche Financing for Acquisition of Karavel Groupe
Simpson Thacher represented the lenders in connection with the unitranche financing for the acquisition of Karavel Groupe by a consortium led by Montefiore Investment, Ceres Industries Capital and Compagnie Financière Jousset (CFJ).
Launched in 2001, Karavel is a pioneering e-tourism travel agency that assists nearly one million customers annually. Through its three brand platforms — FRAM, Promovacances, and ABcroisières — and a network of 170 physical agencies across the country with ca. 1,000 employees, Karavel offers discounted travel deals at 250 clubs and resorts, along with over 500 tour packages worldwide.
Montefiore Investment is a leading private equity firm dedicated to servicing SMEs and mid-market companies. Based in Paris and Milan, Montefiore Investment currently manages €5 billion in equity and invests in ticket sizes ranging from €20 million to €200 million in order to finance sustainable and profitable growth for its portfolio companies. Ceres Industries Capital is an “independent sponsor” managed by former CEOs which has invested in more than 40 companies across 8 countries using its differentiated entrepreneurial approach. CFJ is an investment holding company owned by Frédéric Jousset, a French entrepreneur co-founder of Webhelp and investor in private for more than 15 years. Created in 2023, CFJ invests its own funds worldwide in industrial, services or technology companies with solid fundamentals and strong growth potential.
The Simpson Thacher team included Hadrien Servais, Brian Bodensteiner and Kacper Sztejter (all Credit).