3i boosts growth of Poliris with 60m investment

3i, Europe's leading private equity company, today announces that it has invested €60m for a significant minority stake in Poliris.

Paris-based Poliris is a leading content publisher of online real estate listings directories and property related information in France.

Poliris was formed in 1992 by CEO Denys Chalumeau and MD Amal Amar.Today, the company is a leader in online real estate listing services, publishing four leading websites which receive more than four million visitors per month and run a total of 470,000 advertisements simultaneously. These include: Seloger.com, Immostreet.com, SeLogerNeuf.com and LaCoteImmo. The company currently has a turnover of €24m with very strong growth - historically and prospective - following the current market switch from off-line to online listings.

Guy Zarzavatdjian, MD 3i Francecommented on the investment: "Poliris'' impressive business model, coupled with a top class management team, made the decision to invest in the company an easy one. We are eager to work with the team to encourage further growth and development within this niche market".

Denys Chalumeau said: "Poliris has achieved significant growth since its inception in 1992. With our ever expanding product offering, combined with strong customer satisfaction, we are well placed to achieve further growth. 3i shares our strategic outlook and we are delighted that Europe''s leading private equity company has decided to help us in this next important phase for the business."

ENDS

Contacts

3i : Olivier Le Gall, Stanislas Cuny, Julien Vagner, Jean-David Chamboredon

Poliris : Denys Chalumeau, Amal Amar

Financiers Vendeurs : Luc Lechelle (AXA Private Equity)

Europ@web : Patrick Houel, Sophie Gilg, François-Joseph Furry

Alven Capital : Charles Letourneur, Guillaume Aubin

Advisors 3i

Bain&Co : Jean-Marc Leroux, Gauthier Reymondier, Damien Dubourdieu

Weil, Gotshal & Manges (Legal): David Aknin, Jean Beauchataud, Stéphane Chaouat, CSFB (M&A): Didier Denat, Fady Lahame,

E&Y - (Finance) : Sami Rahal,  Régis Houriez,

Capgemini - (IT) Vincent Lacroix et Guillaume Leroy

Aon (Assurance) : Christian Mergier

DCB Fairness : Bruno Husson

Advisors vendor

Jefferies Broadview (M&A): Julie Langley, Romain Gonthier

Lovells (Legal) : Jon Harry, Olivier Abergel, Christine Lesné

Rioux Antoine Paponnaud Devinne (Legal) : Jean-Claude Rioux, Grégoire Gilbert

Banks

BNP Paribas : Yannick Jung, François Artignan

IKB : Carole Bonart, Daniel-Roger Marker

Capzanine : David Hoppenot, Julie Masson