News
Arnaud Pédron, Laura Bavoux, Numa Rengot

Distressed acquisition opportunities – September 2024

Franklin’s Restructuring team has assembled its latest sector-by-sector list of distressed acquisition opportunities.

The targets are companies in insolvency proceedings that are now up for sale and for which tender offers have been made by the court-appointed trustees in charge of finding potential buyers.

Our sector-by-sector updates are designed to help clients quickly identify potential build-up opportunities.

Tender offer periods are very often extended beyond the deadlines specified in the list.

If you are interested in any of these assets, please contact our partners Numa RengotLaura Bavoux and Arnaud Pédron who will be happy to provide further information and assist you with your acquisition.

This court-sanctioned sale process offers an opportunity to buy:

  • Fast: in a few weeks
  • Directly or through a NewCo
  • After limited due diligence (i.e., limited to the scope of the acquisition)
  • At lower prices than out-of-court acquisitions: the real cost consists in financing the acquired operation
  • Free and clear of debt, with only a few exceptions (no successor liability – lien and encumbrance free)
  • Without liability for restructuring costs
  • A turnkey, autonomous business unit
  • “Cherry picked” assets (number of employees, tangible and intangible assets, as well as rental, finance lease, distribution, purchase, and service agreements necessary for the continued operation of the business).

Ovelo Cycles

Main features:

  • Business: Multi-brand sales of electrically-assisted bicycles and spare parts via a website and 10 shops located throughout the city
  • Location: Fréjus (Var)
  • Company registration number: 809 107 675
  • 2023 revenues: 29,2 M€ – 2022 revenues: 24,3 M€ – 2021 revenues: 17,5 M€
  • Headcount 54 employees
  • Deadline for submitting bids: 06/09/2024

Call centres

Main features:

  • Business: Group specialising in call centres and telephone research, mainly for the public sector
  • Location: Ile-de-France and Nouvelle Aquitaine
  • 2023 revenues: 7,3 M€ – 2022 revenues: 8,1 M€ – 2021 revenues: 5,1 M€
  • Headcount 183 employees
  • Deadline for submitting bids: 30/09/2024

Professional training

Main features:

  • Business: Continuing education for adults returning to work. Various areas of intervention (coaching, support for health and medical social services, digital and office automation training, various certification courses, etc.).
  • Location: Essonne
  • Revenues: 5,2 M€
  • Headcount 47 employees
  • Deadline for submitting bids: 30/09/2024

Food Traboule

Main features:

  • Business: Bar, restaurant, food market
    Management and rental of catering facilities
  • Location: Lyon (Rhône Alpes)
  • Company registration number: Le Comptoir des apothicaires : 843 930 678 – Food Food Traboule : 948 857 818 – TLA : 838 168 599
  • 2023 revenues: Le Comptoir des apothicaires : 1,4 M€ – Food Food Traboule : 1,4 M€ – TLA : 858 K€
  • Headcount: Le Comptoir des apothicaires : 11 employees – Food Food Traboule : 12 employees – TLA : 0 employee
  • Deadline for submitting bids: 10/10/2024

API 84

Main features:

  • Business: Professional training activity financed by the OPCOs.
    Training around 900 people a year, from BAC to BAC +5 level.
  • Location: Avignon (Vaucluse)
  • Company registration number: 413 521 527
  • 2023 revenues: 4,7 M€ – 2022 revenues: 4,7 M€ – 2021 revenues: 4,8 M€
  • Headcount: 41 permanent employees and 60 temporary staff
  • Deadline for submitting bids: 09/09/2024

Miscellaneous industrial supplies and equipment

Main features:

  • Business: B-to-B wholesale of various industrial supplies and equipment, handling and lifting equipment and public works equipment
  • Location: Val d’Oise
  • 2023 revenues: 2,7 M€
  • Headcount 18 employees
  • Deadline for submitting bids: 10/09/2024

Industrial piping

Main features:

  • Business: Family business located in an industrial zone – Design, production and assembly of industrial piping using the skills of a boilermaker, welder and pipe fitter;
    Responds to calls for tenders on industrial sites and plant renovation/construction projects – Has a wide range of accreditations/qualifications
  • Location: Oise
  • 2023 revenues: 2,5 M€
  • Headcount 19 employees
  • Deadline for submitting bids: 27/09/2024

Surveillance company

Main features:

  • Business: Company specialising in the installation, verification and maintenance of alarms and fire and intrusion detection systems
  • Location: Ile-de-France
  • 2023 revenues: 2,2 M€ – 2022 revenues: 2,2 M€ – 2021 revenues: 1,6 M€
  • Headcount 17 employees
  • Deadline for submitting bids: 20/09/2024

Installation of autonomous energy solutions and applications

Main features:

  • Business: This company, which has been specialising in autonomous energy systems and solutions for over 20 years, operates in France, Africa and French overseas departments and territories. 70% of its professional customers are major players (B2B) and 30% are B2C individuals.
    A team of professional experts skilled in the consultancy, design, development and installation support of all autonomous energy solutions and applications (photovoltaic, hydro turbines, energy storage, thermal, autonomous video surveillance/security, back-up power, etc.)
  • Location: Val d’Oise
  • 2023 revenues: 1,5 M€
  • Headcount 4 employees
  • Deadline for submitting bids: 27/09/2024

Traditional restaurant, bar and brasserie

Main features:

  • Business: Traditional restaurant, bar and brasserie
  • Location: Val d’Oise
  • 2023 revenues: 1,3 M€
  • Headcount 15 employees
  • Deadline for submitting bids: 20/09/2024

Building engineering firm

Main features:

  • Business: Building engineering firm (structure – fluids – thermal engineering – construction economics – external works)
  • Location: Vallée du Rhône
  • 2023 revenues: 1,2 M€
  • Headcount 18 employees
  • Deadline for submitting bids: 23/09/2024

Cleaning company for professionals

Main features:

  • Business: Cleaning company for professionals working in the tertiary, hospital, industrial, agri-food, urban, sales areas, local authorities and public reception areas in cleaning and glazing. Trained staff. Operations in the Oise, Aisne and Somme departments
  • Location: Oise
  • 2023 revenues: 930 K€
  • Headcount 62 employees
  • Deadline for submitting bids: 20/09/2024

Restaurant under the «Big Fernand»

Main features:

  • Business: Restaurant under the nationally recognised ‘Big Fernand’ franchise
  • Location: Seine Maritime
  • 2023 revenues: 853 K€
  • Headcount 11 employees
  • Deadline for submitting bids: 20/09/2024

Restaurant

Main features:

  • Business: On-site and takeaway catering, delicatessen, catering for events
  • Location: Val d’Oise
  • 2023 revenues: 607 K€
  • Headcount 4 employees
  • Deadline for submitting bids: 20/09/2024

Optician

Main features:

  • Business: Opticians, spectacle makers, hearing aid acousticians. Optical retailing. Shop franchised by the ‘Alain Afflelou’ optical chain.
  • Location: Val d’Oise
  • 2023 revenues: 211 K€
  • Headcount 1 employee
  • Deadline for submitting bids: 04/10/2024