DC Advisory advised the shareholders of Groupe Thoiry on its majority sale to Kartesia

Background

• Groupe Thoiry is a leading European operator of three large wildlife parks in prime locations across France and Portugal
• Founded in 1967 by the La Panouse family, and co-owned by Ekkio Capital, Groupe Thoiry has remained at the forefront of animal conservation with a strong ethical culture and ESG focus
• Groupe Thoiry is a pioneer in innovation and customer experience, and under Ekkio Capital’s ownership, it has successfully launched various initiatives to drive attendance (such as the ‘Light Festival’ and an out-of-the-ordinary accommodation offer)
• France-based Kartesia is a debt and equity solutions specialist for SMEs

Process

• DC Advisory (DC) acted as exclusive financial advisor to the shareholders of Groupe Thoiry on its majority sale to Kartesia

Outcome

• In April 2022, Kartesia entered into exclusive discussions to acquire a majority stake in Groupe Thoiry alongside the founding family La Panouse, Ekkio Capital and the management team, who would reinvest in the operation
• As a result of this transaction, Kartesia will provide critical support to accelerate Groupe Thoiry’s development - notably by further enhancing the accommodation offering, enlarging the potential client base, and investing in the existing infrastructure
• This transaction further bolsters DC’s credentials in the leisure sector and the ESG client focus further demonstrates its commitment to the UN SDGs
• The closing of this transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approval