Clearwater has advised the shareholders of Groupe Campella, a French campsite and holiday accommodation owner and operator on its sale to Groupe Capfun, a leader in the French outdoor hospitality market.
Founded in 2013 and jointly managed by Thierry Guignard and Thierry Pacteau, Groupe Campella had 14 establishments including 12 campsites, one holiday village and one hotel in Les Sables-d'Olonne, marketed under the Oléla brand alongside three other campsites retained by Thierry Guignard. These establishments welcome holidaymakers in key outdoor tourism regions or near theme parks.
With this acquisition, Groupe Capfun has added 12 more French campsites to its catalogue, which already includes more than 140 sites in Europe. These campsites are located in particularly touristy areas such as the Vendée, the Dordogne, the Landes, the Loire-Atlantique, but also the Paris region, Seine-et-Marne, and the Vienne near the Futuroscope.
This acquisition represents 2,605 pitches and properties for Capfun, including 1,378 rental sites, 808 bare sites and 419 residences, for a turnover of more than €15m in 2019.
The founding managers - Thierry Guignard and Thierry Pacteau - as well as the minority investors who took a stake in 2016 - Bpifrance Investissement and BNP Paribas Développement, were advised by Clearwater. Edith Renaud of Legica Conseils also worked alongside Clearwater on the M&A aspects of the transaction.
