Crédit Mutuel Equity, shareholder of Minafin since 2005, and Quilvest Capital Partners have closed a new equity financing round for the Minafin Group, with the exit of Andera Partners and Siparex ETI who had been shareholders since 2017. Minafin’s management team is reinvesting in this new transaction alongside the company’s founder, who further reinforces his majority position.
Founded in 2004, Minafin is a leading global fine chemical developer and manufacturer, specialising in active pharmaceutical ingredients (“API”) manufacturing and green chemistry. The group operates six industrial facilities in France, Belgium, Germany and the United States supporting international customers in the life sciences and high-tech industries.
Thanks to its unique R&D and manufacturing expertise, state-of-the-art industrial asset base and ability to develop and industrialise innovative processes, the Minafin group has experienced robust organic and inorganic growth over the past years. The group was supported between 2017 and 2021 by a pool of minority financial investors including Andera Midcap, Siparex ETI, Crédit Mutuel Equity and Nord Croissance. It has increased its turnover from €162m in 2016 to €243m in 2020, with double-digit annual organic growth.
Through this new investment, Quilvest Capital Partners (with the support of MACSF) and Crédit Mutuel Equity plan to accelerate Minafin’s development through organic growth and acquisitions in Europe, the USA and Asia. They will be supported by Siparex ETI and FCPI IRD Entrepreneurs who are reinvesting significantly in the transaction.
Sylvain Charignon, Partner at Andera MidCap and Florent Lauzet, Partner at Siparex ETI said: “We are very proud of the support we brought to Frédéric Gauchet in the development of Minafin over the past four years. The group succeeded in strengthening its position as a leading international player in the fine chemicals sector. It benefits from a great runway to further grow at home and abroad.”
Frédéric Gauchet, Founder and President of Minafin said: “We are very proud of Minafin’s many achievements since inception in 2005, and of the continued support our financial partners have shown to the company. We are also delighted to welcome new investors to further support the international growth of the group, among other through build-ups, and help us further strengthen our global reach. Having existing financial partners reinvest, some of which were already with us at inception in 2005, is a strong testimony of the work accomplished by the whole management team and of the strong results achieved. We are also excited to welcome new investors that bring a further global dimension.
Philippe Traisnel, Executive Director at Crédit Mutuel Equity said: “We have been working with Frédéric Gauchet and the management of Minafin for more than 15 years, which demonstrates our long-term mutual trust. This financing round opens a new phase in the group’s development, with many exciting opportunities for growth ahead.”
Thomas Vatier, Partner at Quilvest Capital Partners said: “We are very pleased to be joining the pool of the existing investors in Minafin. The group enjoys strong fundamentals in high-growth underlying markets, particularly pharmaceuticals, and is led by a high-quality management team. We look forward to supporting the international development of the company, with the help of Quilvest’s global network on three continents.”