Groupe SVP has established a presence in Canada with the acquisition of professional training and translation specialist Groupe Synesis.
Groupe SVP is also carrying out the refinancing of its acquisition debt taken out in July 2011 and proceeding with repayment of the mezzanine debt carried by IFE and CM-CIC Private Debt.
This is being done with the support of Omnes Capital, which has held a stake in Groupe SVP since 2011.
Groupe Synesis was formed from the merger of training companies Versalys and CFC and translation company Documens. Owned by two Canadian entrepreneurs, Ugo Dionne and Wiseman, the company is a key player in Canada, having been present in the market for 35 years. It offers a comprehensive range of 900 IT, office automation, human capital, project management and business language training programmes. It has a team of 125 specialists, four offices and around 30 training venues in Québec, Montreal, Laval and Brossard. The company trains around 25,000 people each year and generates sales of CAD 10 million.
Via its subsidiaries, Groupe SVP offers a range of professional services in information and decision-making (SVP and BusinessFil), payroll management and HR (e-Paye), and training and skills development (Agif and Fym Conseil).
Based on Saint-Ouen, Groupe SVP works with more than 30,000 decision-makers at 10,000 businesses and local authorities. This acquisition will bring the company’s total sales to around EUR70 million in 2015.
This is the fifth acquisition by the company since 2005 and the first outside France, allowing Groupe SVP to take another step forward in its strategy for growth by establishing a foothold in North America. The company may add to its training offering for French clients and in return offer Versalys’ clients its summary and monitoring services, as well as certain management training programmes and virtual classrooms.
Olivier Lenormand, Chairman of Group SVP, says: “We were attracted by Groupe Synesis’ dynamism and the entrepreneurial spirit of the people that run it – values that we share. The strategic fit between our activities will allow for rapid synergies in both France and Canada. This is our first acquisition outside France, demonstrating our desire to expand internationally. Other acquisitions will take place in the months ahead, in both Europe and the Americas.”
Bertrand Tissot, Partner at Omnes Capital, adds: “This acquisition in Canada is an important step forward in the life of Groupe SVP. Synesis undeniably constitutes a solid platform for future expansion in North America.”
