HLDI and HLD Europe has entered exclusive negotiations with investment companies PAI Partners and Sagard to acquire a majority stake in Kiloutou, one of Europe’s leading equipment leasing companies designed for industry and construction.
The completion of the transaction is subject to the consultation of the Works Council and the approval of the competition authorities.
Founded by Franky Mulliez in 1980, number 2 in the rental market for equipment for industry and construction in France, the 4th largest European rental company, Kiloutou offers its customers the widest range of equipment on the market. With an expected turnover of more than 600 million euros for 2017 and a workforce of 4,300 people in Europe, Kiloutou now has a network of around 500 branches in Europe (France, Poland, Spain, Italy and Germany). The Kiloutou group targets a very diversified clientele of professionals: national accounts, construction companies, craftsmen, communities and administrations, industries, services and SMEs.
With the support of its new shareholder, Kiloutou will be able to accelerate its development in Europe and strengthen its leading position on the French market thanks to its management team, which has acquired in the last 10 years a real expertise in external growth.
The significant reinvestment of Franky Mulliez and the team at Kiloutou (1,400 employee shareholders) led by Xavier du Boÿs and Olivier Colleau alongside HLDI and HLD Europe shows their deep conviction in the development prospects of Kiloutou.
Xavier du Boÿs, President of Kiloutou:
“I am delighted to be able to start a new stage in the development of this wonderful company with our new shareholders, with whom we share the same values. Together, we aim to build a broad European equipment rental platform, focused on our mission: to simplify the lives of all our customers wherever they are. For this, we will continue to expand our service offering and improve the customer experience, particularly through our digital investments. We will succeed in this project by remaining faithful to our commitment to sustainable development, and keeping at the heart of our concerns the quality of the men and women of Kiloutou, who are the key to its success. “
Jean-Bernard Lafonta, Partner and Co-Founder of HLD:
“The specificity of HLD, which accompanies successful companies without time constraints, has been very important in the choice of the new shareholder of Kiloutou: it allows us to realize the European ambition while overcoming the economic cycles. We are delighted to be associated with the Kiloutou growth project, whose corporate culture is so special, based on a passion for the customer, a taste for performance and trust in people, reinforced by the impressive dynamism of the company. teams, echo our values. With the entrepreneurial spirit that drives HLD, we are confident that we can help the Kiloutou teams to become the European leader in the sector. “
Antoine Ernoult-Dairaine, Partner at Sagard:
“Shareholders of Kiloutou since 2005, we are very proud to have accompanied for more than 12 years the different stages of growth of the group Kiloutou, in France and then in Europe, as majority and then minority shareholder. These successes are to the credit of team members, these women and men who animate the group on a daily basis with a dynamism and an unparalleled state of mind. Our thanks also go to Franky Mulliez, the group management team and PAI for their trust. “
Nicolas Holzman, Partner at PAI Partners:
“Over the last 6 years, Kiloutou has doubled in size, continuing to gain market share, diversifying its product lines and becoming a formidable acquisition platform. Kiloutou is today a European leader present in 5 countries. PAI warmly thanks the teams of Kiloutou, its leaders and our partners Franky Mulliez and Sagard for this great adventure of transformation “