More than a decade ago, Amundi Private Equity Funds launched its first investment vehicles taking direct holdings in unlisted companies, mainly through venture capital investments in France. This direct private equity fund management business subsequently underwent radical change, with a greater emphasis on new market segments and geographical regions, and currently has assets under management and commitments of €1,2 billion. The investment management team now comprises 40 professionals based mainly in France but also in Egypt, Morocco, Poland, Romania and Tunisia.
Amundi Private Equity Funds manages an extensive range of direct funds with clearly delineated investment strategies and expertise to meet the requirements of each category of subscribers:
French FCPI innovation funds, FIP regional investment funds, and SOFICA cinematography and audiovisual financing funds (Sociétés pour le Financement de l'Industrie Cinématographique and Audiovisuelle).
As French investment vehicles, they are authorised by the French securities regulator (Autorité des Marchés Financiers – AMF) and address individual clients wishing to diversify their portfolios over the (very) long term with the possibility of benefiting from attractive tax breaks. Depending on the fund type, their assets comprise:
Equity holdings in innovative SME in France or other European Union countries for the FCPI. The expertise required is provided either by our in-house teams specialised in venture capital, or by delegation to specialist venture capital management companies where this is a more appropriate alternative;
Equity holdings in French regional SME for the FIP. Our in-house teams specialised in venture capital and expansion capital in France provide the expertise required;
Equity holdings in cinematography and audiovisual productions in the case of SOFICA investments, which are delegated to specialised companies.
French FCPR venture capital funds or foreign investment vehicles such as limited partnerships.
These funds are open only to experienced investors wishing to benefit from the expertise of Amundi Private Equity Funds’ investment management teams in niche strategies presenting high growth potential. This applies in particular to dedicated funds through:
Equity holdings in French SME to support their development and provide the requisite equity capital;
Equity holdings in SME located in regions with attractive growth prospects, in which private equity players are still relatively rare. Locally-based teams, with their in-depth knowledge of the domestic economic and regulatory environments, have significant advantages in this field, particularly in Eastern Europe and North Africa.