Keolis
- Sector Industrial
- Year invested 2004
- Location France
- Status Realised
Keolis is a leading urban and inter-urban transport operator.
Visit keolis.com
Overview
At the time of 3i’s exit in 2006, Keolis operated in seven countries including the UK, Sweden, Germany and Canada. It employed over 33,000 staff and had a turnover of €2.6bn.
How we added value
- Introduced Michel Bleitrach as Chair, Michel Lamboley as CFO, and Jean Michel Mauvilly as NXD
- Assisted with four key French acquisitions and recruited full-time M&A team to ensure consistent pipeline for growth
- Worked with management to structure the group involving a comprehensive reorganisation of the business in France including the promotions of 30 young managers and the setup of an equity based incentive program for nearly 400 managers
- Solved the succession issues and attracted top talents
- Grew EBITDA by over 32% to €155m between 2003 and 2006
- 3i sold its majority stake in 2006 to a consortium for €1.08bn, with an IRR of 110%
3i’s industry expertise and contacts helped us prioritise our plans, win major contracts in existing geographies such as Sweden and the UK, and evaluate new locations for growth. As a result, international growth was disciplined, quick and profitable.
Regulatory information
This transaction involved a recommendation of 3i Investments plc, advised by 3i France.