22 April 2024 marks a significant milestone for mci group as L-GAM and the Tondeur Family – anchor & founding shareholders – join forces with management in a new strategic partnership. This collaboration aims to streamline mci group’s ownership structure and support an ambitious growth plan.
The Swiss group was accompanied since 2017 by EMZ Partners and Indigo Capital who backed the group’s development in the USA and Latin America.
The group will continue to be led by Roger Tondeur, Chairman, and Sebastien Tondeur, CEO. The mci group is a marketing and communication group of 7 global brands active in experiential events, community management, marketing performance, strategic communications, and digital engagement. Globally present in 31 countries, mci group intends to accelerate the expansion of its brand porolio globally and explore the new territories of generative AI, the metaverse and the blockchain.
Sebastien Tondeur, CEO of mci group, declared: “Many thanks to my partners Monique and Pierre-Francois, respectively, with Indigo Capital and EMZ, for their absolute support and their valuable advice. Together with L-GAM and our global management team, the Tondeur family is ready to embark on this new growth phase which will notably include continuing our growth in Europe, Asia, the IMEA region and Latin America, and an acceleration of our development in the USA. The digitization of the world and the strength of the relationship economy will be at the center of our focus.”
Yves Alexandre, co-founder of L-GAM added: “We are excited to join Roger and Sebastien Tondeur and the whole team in this great journey. We have been impressed by the achievements since the start 35 years ago, and we absolutely share management’s vision for mci group. We look forward to our partnership and to pursuing the global development of mci while preserving the strong cultural value of the firm”
The parties have agreed not to disclose details of the transaction.
About mci group
We are an independent global marketing & communications group with a human-first approach. We’re powered by a global agency network of over 1,200 clients across 31 countries and have a 35+ year proven track record. Under the umbrella of mci group, our agencies provide world class talents in the fields of strategy, creativity, account management, technology, operations and research to some of the world`s most iconic and influential brands, companies and associations.
Diversity is our strength. Our comprehensive portfolio spans events and experiences, association and community management, public affairs and communications, research and insight, vertical marketing, social and content marketing.
To learn more, visit www.mci-group.com.
About L-GAM
L-GAM is an international investment company founded in 2013 by its professionals in partnership with the Princely House of Liechtenstein and other major European, Asian and American families. Its unique and differentiated business model is based on a long-term, industrial-like investment focus in partnership with highly reputed SMEs throughout Europe. For more information about L-GAM, please visit htp://www.l-gam.com.
About EMZ Partners
EMZ is a pan-European investment company based in Paris and Munich, exclusively involved in Management Centric operations. For nearly 25 years, EMZ has specialized in supporting medium-sized companies and provides tailor-made financing solutions (Flexible Capital) in close partnership with founders, family shareholders, and management teams. EMZ has made 160 investments for a cumulative amount of 5.3 billion euros since inception in 1999.
EMZ is majority-owned by its own employees and has a base of European institutional investors. EMZ currently invests fund EMZ 10 with a commitment of 1.4 billion euros. Tickets range from 10 to 150 million euros.
About Indigo Capital
Indigo Capital is an independent and well-established player in the alternative finance market specialising in the financing of small and medium-sized European businesses worth between €30-300 million.
Indigo Capital has been operating in this segment since 2000 having invested more than €1.1bn.
Based in Paris, Lyon and Milan, the team of 8 investment professionals has supported over 70 companies with their growth or acquisition projects.
Indigo Capital SAS is a signatory of the United Nation’s Charter of Principles for Responsible Investment (UN PRI), and is committed to implementing the best ESG practices concerning both the management of the firm’s assets and holdings.
Participants:
Target
mci group: Sebastien Tondeur, Roger Tondeur
Sellers
Indigo Capital: Monique Deloire, Laurent Arbona de Soler
EMZ Partners: Pierre-François Gueit, Thierry Raiff
Investors
L-GAM: Yves Alexandre, Jerome Bertrand, André Laidi
Counsel to the Sellers and the Target
Financial Advisor : Amala (Nicolas Royer), Canaccord Genuity (Dylan Kearns)
Legal Advisor: Jacquemoud Stanislas (Philippe Jacquemoud)
Tax Advisor: Tax Partners (Stéphanie Eichenberger)
Financial VDD: A&M (Amaury Bonnaire)
Strategic and Commercial VDD: L.E.K. Consulting (David Bishop)
Counsel to the Investor
Financial Advisor: CF Invest (Christophe Marchand, Raphaël Rossello), Natixis (Olivier Dardel)
Legal Advisor: Shearman & Sterling (Nicolas Bombrun), Bär & Karrer (Cédric Chapuis)
Legal Advisor (Financing): Proskauer (Maud Manon) Financing Advisor: Alvarez & Marsal (Thibaud Parayre)
Financial Due Diligence: Alvarez & Marsal (Frédéric Steiner)
Legal, Labor and Tax Due Diligence: PwC (Katia Gruzdova)
Insurance Due Diligence: Marsh (Jean-Marie Dargaignaratz)