Eurazeo to invest over €70M to become the majority shareholder of WiiSmile

|

|

Last update:

Paris-based Eurazeo, a private equity and VC firm, announced that it has signed an agreement to invest more than €70M in WiiSmile. Eurazeo’s Small-Mid Buyout team agreed to invest in WiiSmile along with the company’s management team, Sylvain Bianchini, Brice Bonnaigue, and Jerome Bourdon.

Eurazeo will now become WiiSmile’s majority shareholder. NextStage AM, a financial shareholder of WiiSmile since 2020, also plans to reinvest a portion of its sale proceeds and will retain a minority stake in the company.

Julien Potier, Partner at NextStage AM, says, “We take great pride in having supported the team at WiiSmile for nearly two years. The company has been able to build up its client base among micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in France while expanding its range of solutions, in particular thanks to three acquisitions. We are thrilled to be continuing this adventure alongside Eurazeo as we share the same perspective on WiiSmile’s potential and goals in the coming years.”

Providing holiday vouchers and gift vouchers to employees

WiiSmile, founded in 2001, allows small and medium-sized business owners to provide “all-in-one” solutions to their employees that drive engagement by increasing the quality of life for employees and their families.

The company provides employees gift vouchers, holidays, personal services, and a wide range of recreational, cultural and personal development offerings as benefits. These perks are an effective and unique approach for its MSME executive customers to express their dedication to their employees, promote employee engagement and retention, and strengthen their employer brand.

WiiSmile says it is aimed at a large market in France, with over 400,000 micro, small, and medium-sized businesses (MSMEs) in need of tools and services to help them recruit, inspire, and retain staff. The firm also offers a comprehensive library of online personal development courses as well as a variety of discount offers through a large network of retail and service partners.

Headquartered in Montmélian, in the Savoie department of southeastern France, WiiSmile employs a staff of 140 people and generated annual recurring revenue of approximately €18M in 2021. Since its inception, WiiSmile has built up its presence throughout France, where it has served over 8,500 companies and more than 100,000 employees since 2001.

Capital utilisation

WiiSmile plans to use the funds on increasing client acquisition among SMEs in particular, as well as working with the firm to strengthen its innovation capacity by assisting with the development of new services, the formation of new alliances, and the acquisition of specialised players.

Chairman and co-founder of WiiSmile, Sylvain Bianchini, says, “Eurazeo’s investment in WiiSmile is an important new step to accelerate the growth and development of our business as we advance further along the path we have pursued with passion for more than 20 years: giving owners of MSMEs and their employees access to all the benefits and services considered the exclusive prerogative of larger companies. The team at Eurazeo, which shares our long-term vision of the incredible potential to expand our solutions as well as our commitment to service with a human touch that puts customer satisfaction first, along with an easily scalable technology platform, is the ideal partner for this new chapter in our story.”

“We are also delighted that NextStage AM, which has backed us since 2020, will be remaining at our side over the coming years,” adds Bianchini.

“Eurazeo – Power Better Growth”

Eurazeo is an investment group with a portfolio of €32B in assets under management, including €23.2B from third parties, invested across 530 companies. The firm backs startups at any stage in multiple sectors, including B2B SaaS, digital health, cybersecurity, infrastructure software, fintech, and marketplaces.

With experience in private equity, private debt, real estate, and infrastructure, Eurazeo supports companies of all sizes, with their development through the commitment of its nearly 300 professionals. The firm also claims to offer in-depth sector expertise, a gateway to global markets, and a responsible and stable foothold for growth.

Currently, the firm has offices in Paris, New York, London, Frankfurt, Berlin, Milan, Madrid, Luxembourg, Shanghai, Seoul, Singapore, and Sao Paulo, and is also listed on Euronext Paris.

Pierre Meignen, MD at Eurazeo Small-Mid Buyout, says, “Since 2001, WiiSmile, its management team and all its employees have been building up unique expertise and know-how as a trusted partner for owners of smaller companies interested in deepening their approach in taking care of their employees. We are very pleased to be supporting them through the next phases of the company’s development, by helping them step up access for SMEs to WiiSmile’s solutions across all of France and by continuing to diversify and expand its offering while protecting what is central to its identity and success: close attention to the real expectations and needs of SME owners and their employees, in order to offer them the best possible service.”

Topics:

Follow us:

Vishal Singh

Vishal Singh is a News Reporter and Social Media Marketing Lead at Silicon Canals. He covers developments in the European startup ecosystem and oversees the publication's social media presence. Before joining Silicon Canals, Vishal gained experience at the Indian digital media outlet Inc42, contributing to its growth with insightful content. Despite being a college dropout, his passion for writing has driven his career in journalism.

Partner eventsMore events

Current Month

02apr(apr 2)8:00 am04(apr 4)6:00 am0100 Europe 2025

Share to...