Clearwater International France advises Cofigeo, backed by MBO Partenaires, on the acquisition of Group William Saurin

Clearwater International France has advised Cofigeo, backed by MBO Partenaires since 2014, on the acquisition of Group William Saurin (the ready-made dishes division).

Founded in 1898 and established in Seine et Marne, William Saurin is the French leader in the manufacturing of ready-made dishes.

Clearwater International France advised Cofigeo in the acquisition of Group William Saurin from the holding Financière Turenne Lafayette.

The ambition that drives the union between these two entities is to create a new major food group capable of generating €350m in revenues and employing around 1,400 people.

Cofigeo wishes to deploy a significant strategy of industrial investments. Indeed, thanks to this considerably important acquisition, Cofigeo plans to increase the value of its brands by modernising its identities and reinforcing its communication strategies.

During this transaction, Clearwater International France also advised Cofigeo in the refinancing of the entirety of the Group’s debt and its future growth. This financing, upwards of €60m, was done alongside the Group’s historical banks: Crédit Agricole Nord Midi-Pyrénées, CIC, LCL as well as Société Générale.