There was a sharp increase recorded in private debt fund activity in France in 2018 confirming the growing importance of private debt in financing methods, by offering companies and equity investors an alternative and complementary financing solution to bank debt.
That’s according to a new report by France Invest (Association of Investors for Growth) and Deloitte based on a survey of members of the France Invest Private Debt Commission and international firms which have a team specialising in private debt or a representative office in France. A total of 84 per cent of the 37 firms surveyed responded.
Cécile Mayer-Levi, Chairwoman of the France Invest Private Debt Committee, says: “The activity of private debt funds active in France accelerated sharply in 2018 at two levels: in terms of amounts raised by the funds from mainly institutional investors, who recognised a source of diversification of their investments, as well as in terms of amounts invested and the number of transactions. France retains its position as the second largest private debt market in Europe, attracting both French and international funds.”
Dominique Gaillard, Chairman of France Invest, adds: “In this strongly developing private debt market, France Invest is taking determined action to encourage funds active in France and not yet members of the association to join it. It is by bringing these professionals together that we will be able to make this type of investment, which is useful for companies, even better known.”
According to the report: in 2018, EUR3.5 billion was raised by six French funds – ie a 48 per cent increase compared with 2017 – which will finance companies with private debt.
A total of EUR7 billion in private debt financed 147 transactions carried out by French and foreign funds active in France during the year – an increase of 16 per cent in amounts invested and 20 per cent in transactions compared with 2017.
As last year, France has retained its second place in the European private debt market with 35 per cent of the transactions carried out in 2018, far ahead of Germany.
Some 60 per cent of the amounts invested and 50 per cent of the transactions financed company buy-outs.
The private debt identified in this study covers a wide variety of types of financing, including senior debt provided by debt funds, unitranche financing as well as mezzanine and other subordinated debt.
With 29 per cent of total transactions, the consumer goods and services sector is the largest sector financed by private debt.
A total of 65 per cent of the transactions accompanied a transaction carried out by an equity investor. 35 per cent of the transactions are carried out without the involvement of an equity investor fund, which highlights, at the same time, that private debt is becoming a source of financing in its own right.
In terns of French debt funds, 76 per cent of their transactions were in France and 24 per cent outside France, which represents a high level for these funds who were historically focus on France.
Guillaume Leredde, Assistant Director of Deloitte Debt Advisory says: “Private debt funds continued to grow strongly in 2018 and we also saw the arrival of new foreign inflows, confirming France’s attractiveness in this market. The transaction data show that the French market is still concentrated over the 2017-18 period, with 45 per cent of the amounts invested provided by five funds, including two UK-based funds. The arrival of new entrants will lead to a greater diversity of financing offers for companies, as we have seen in the UK in recent years.”
