Interview for Challenges magazine
Discover the interview of our Vice-President Jean-Jacques Vaury about the news and missions of Societex exclusively on the website of the news magazine Challenges!
SOCIETEX : TAILOR-MADE ADVICE FOR CORPORATE FINANCE OPERATIONS
Societex, an independent French investment bank, assists SMEs and historical management shareholders in their disposal, acquisition and financing operations. A relevant advice especially in these turbulent times.
Founded in 1952, Societex, an independent French investment bank, delivers tailor-made Corporate Finance services. It brings together a team of fifteen employees and 20 senior advisors. “Our main job is that of advisor to corporate shareholder executives”, explains Jean-Jacques Vaury, Vice-CEO of Societex. “We offer advice on disposals / acquisitions. In addition, Societex has its own evaluation model for SMEs, mid-caps and groups. Our multidisciplinary team is thus able to understand the value of the company and advise managers.”
Thanks to this specialization in independent valuation, Societex differentiates itself from other investment banks. “For example, we carried out an independent evaluation of Weldom, a group specializing in the sale of DIY equipment to allow the exit of minority shareholders holding about 30% of the capital. And this in complete independence” according to Jean-Jacques Vaury.
Societex’s DNA is to be in a community of interest with its customers. “Our clients are entrepreneurs who recommend us to new clients,” explains Jean-Jacques Vaury. This community of interest is essential in the eyes of Societex because it makes it possible to privilege the long term and balance over the short-term profitability of a sale / acquisition operation.“Whatever the mission, in France or abroad, it generally lasts between 6 and 18 months, except in the case of an independent evaluation, conducted between 1 and 4 months”, continues Jean-Jacques Vaury. Societex also assists its clients in fundraising and financing operations.
Although generalist and multisectoral, Societex has developed a strengthened expertise in Agri-food, Construction, Industry, Tech, Services and Hospitality and Catering. “In the industrial sector, for example, we have just sold a branch of activity of the Efinor group, a specialist in welding and boilermaking, to the Framatome group”, says Jean-Jacques Vaury.
Support for companies in France and abroad
Societex carries out about twenty transactions per year for valuations between 5 and 50 million euros. In addition to operating in France, this independent investment bank specializes in international markets. “More than 25% of operations are carried out abroad and particularly in Europe, as is currently the case in the Netherlands”, explains Jean-Jacques Vaury.
Societex thus wishes to develop more widely internationally, aware that the strategy of fast-growing SMEs is based, among other things, on an increased presence outside the France.
Operations evolving to keep pace with the news
Societex offers tailor-made services to its clients, in order to adapt in particular to societal changes, rising energy prices and a CSR approach as part of its investment banking missions.
“We put the interests of our customers first. Thus, if a mission, which we are asked to carry out, is not good for the client, we refuse it. Recently, a client wanted to sell his company but we deemed it necessary for him to postpone this sale in his interest”, says Jean-Jacques Vaury. Time is not a question at Societex, only the sustainability of the deal matters.
Societex has implemented a significant development plan. The company’s ambition is to strengthen its position in independent valuation and significantly increase the number of divestments carried out by recruiting experienced employees. It wishes to continue to be the reference consulting company for historical shareholder managers for the sale of companies and for their support.
Corporate mergers and acquisitions and fundraising of SMEs and mid-caps require advice and expert support. Societex, an independent investment bank for 70 years, works with companies in France and abroad for high-quality Corporate Finance transactions (sale / acquisition, fundraising, valuation …). Thanks to an extensive community of interest and long-term monitoring, Societex continues its significant growth, while offering a strategy based on tailor-made support and its own evaluation model.