What we did

Capitalmind Investec was appointed by Air Liquide to organize discussions with ALPA and manage a swift and efficient process. We actively supported Air Liquide in negotiating with ALPA by providing valuation guidance, execution support (data room management, deal coordination, market perspective, etc.), mapping out negotiation arguments, supporting the team in the social process and more generally defining tactics to make this deal happen.

About the deal

Air Liquide is the world leader in gases for industry, health and the environment. Present in 80 countries with 46 200 employees, Air Liquide Group revenue amounts to € 14.5bn in FY11 and net profit exceeds €1.5bn. Air Liquide is Listed on Euronext, and a key value of the CAC 40.

Laboratoire de Rouen is a French testing laboratory, providing high-end testing services to the water, agro-commodities and industrial markets. The firm is based in Rouen and is recognized as one of the most knowledgeable French testing firm.

The ALPA Group is a fast growing French group of laboratories dedicated to the healthcare, environment and agro-food industries. Alpa is N°4 on the French market, growing through internal and external growth. The acquisition of Laboratoire de Rouen offers ALPA a new platform to develop its environment testing business and to complete its agro-food offering by entering the agro-commodities trading market.

Alpa is owned by its management together with Naxicap, one of the largest French private equity fund specialized on small and midcaps.