Poissy (78), July 19, 2022 – Wattelez, a specialist in protection and accessibility equipment, is reorganizing its shareholding structure with the arrival of Yotta Capital as the new majority shareholder. Yotta Capital is the first investment fund dedicated to the development and decarbonization of French industrial SMEs.
Founded in 1885, Wattelez has established itself over the years as an expert in elastomer-based solutions designed for personal and child safety, accessibility for people with disabilities, and the protection of buildings and industrial facilities.
Wattelez works closely with its network of B2B distributor partners (hardware distributors, industrial suppliers, flooring specialists) to offer local authorities, building professionals, and industrial companies a complete range of inventive products, designed and manufactured entirely in France at its production site in Île-de-France.
Yotta Capital, now the company’s key shareholder, intends to support and accompany the industrial and commercial transformation strategy led by CEO Antoine Soulas, fostering product innovation in service of Wattelez’s mission: reducing accidents and improving safety.
According to Antoine Soulas, CEO of Wattelez: “Since I joined the company in early 2020, I have worked on a new roadmap aimed at improving our commercial and industrial organization, rationalizing our product portfolio, and revitalizing innovation. Today, Wattelez is firmly back on the path to growth. The challenge for the coming years is to establish Wattelez as a committed player in the circular economy.”
Indeed, Yotta Capital will leverage its experience to support Wattelez’s teams in integrating environmental considerations throughout the company. Thanks to the use of rubber granules sourced from recycling channels, the company is already aligned with circular economy principles. The objective is to continue these efforts and launch new projects aimed at increasing product circularity and reducing greenhouse gas emissions across the entire value chain. As Xavier Herrmann, Founding Partner of Yotta Capital, points out: “A product made from recycled rubber emits ten times less CO₂, and represents that many plastics that are not incinerated or, worse, released into nature. Wattelez is one of the few companies offering real recycling outlets. There is still significant potential to reconcile development and environmental responsibility.”
Convinced of this potential, the former reference shareholder, Targa Capital, is reinvesting alongside Yotta Capital and CEO Antoine Soulas. As highlighted by Sylvain Campion, Founding Partner of Targa Capital: “Targa Capital supported the first phase of ensuring Wattelez’s long-term sustainability while structuring the company for growth. With that phase successfully completed—thanks in particular to Antoine Soulas—it is now time to embark on a new corporate project.”
About WATTELEZ
Founded in 1885, Wattelez has genuine expertise in vulcanized rubber and thermoplastic elastomers used in the manufacturing of equipment designed to protect people, buildings, and industrial facilities. The company currently employs around 40 people and generates revenue of more than €8 million.
More information: https://wattelez.com/
About Yotta Capital Partners
Yotta Capital Partners is the first growth and buyout fund dedicated to the Industry of the Future. With 25 years of experience, its hybrid team brings together recognized private equity professionals and top-tier industrial experts. Committed to environmental responsibility, Yotta Capital Partners invests in French industrial SMEs and provides strong support in their modernization, growth, and decarbonization challenges, helping them to successfully transition into the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Yotta Capital is a member of the International Climate Initiative, a signatory of the UN PRI, and has been awarded the Label Relance.
More information: www.yottacapital.fr – Contact: 01 81 70 88 50 – ycp@yottacapital.fr
About Targa Capital:
Targa Capital is an investment firm composed of more than twenty business leaders whose purpose is to invest in SMEs, providing the financial and human resources needed to execute development plans or support company transfers. Since its creation in 2011, Targa Capital has completed 15 investments, mainly in industrial companies.
Targa Capital’s philosophy is to be a long-term investor that actively contributes to the life of the company without interfering in day-to-day management. In each investment, Targa Capital implements a support model for management teams through monthly governance meetings systematically attended by the two partners involved in the project. Targa Capital brings its extensive expertise as former business leaders in SME strategy and management. It also deploys tools and methods to help companies improve organizational efficiency.
Contact : 06 08 12 33 56 – s.campion@targa-capital.fr
Intervenants de l’opération
Investors: Yotta Capital Partners, Xavier Herrmann, Daniel Javed, Camille Poret ; Targa Capital, Sylvain Campion ; Management, Antoine Soulas
Investor Legal Counsel: Lamartine Conseil, Fabien Mauvais, Bintou Niang, Aude Marcheux, Nadia Driouich
Seller Legal Counsel: Themis Avocats, Charlotte Lagrange
Management Legal Counsel: Edge Avocats, Claire Baufine-Ducrocq
Investor Due Diligence: Exelmans, Manuel Manas, Grégoire Dubois ; Carbone 4, Clémence Lacharme, Lucile Brand ; Ethifinance, Salomé Martin, Hugues-Antoine Duclaux ; APAVE, Pierre Delrieu.
Senior Debt Providers: CIC, Banque Populaire Val de France
