Groupama launches agricultural private debt fund
Groupama Asset Management has launched a private debt fund to support environmental transformations in the agricultural and agri-food sector.
Groupe des Assurances Mutuelles Agricoles (Groupama) is an agricultural insurance mutual headquartered in Paris with operations in 10 countries.
The Groupama Agro Solution Debt Fund aims to raise €200m (£172m), mainly allocated to senior debt, and will finance companies across the entire value chain from production to distribution.
Groupama Agro Solution Debt aims to finance around thirty companies in France and Europe, by offering them diversification of their sources of financing.
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The fund will mainly support companies with senior debt in their development projects, such as capital investments, acquisitions and management buyout or leveraged buyout operations.
Eligible companies must have a gross operating surplus greater than €2m. The fund will invest at least 60 per cent of its assets in France.
Groupama Asset Management investment team includes three experts from the agricultural and agri-food sector.
Hectar founder Audrey Bourolleau has 15 years of experience in the private sector, particularly in the wine industry, Jean-Christophe Juilliard is a manager and business administrator with 30 years of experience in the agri-food industry, and Olivier Pardessus, has been head of the offers and service department within the agricultural department of Groupama for 10 years.
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“As a subsidiary of the leading French insurer in the agricultural world, we have privileged access to this sector and its players,” said Groupama Asset Management head of private debt Emmanuel Daull. “This strengthens our sectoral expertise and allows us to identify unique investment opportunities.”
Groupama Asset Management institutional sales director Olivier Le Braz added: “Our new strategy is generating great enthusiasm among institutional investors, particularly those who supported our first social impact debt fund. We are confident in our ability to respond to sectoral challenges, thanks to a solid investment team and the active support of the Groupama Group.”
This second private debt fund dedicated to the agricultural and agri-food sector capitalises on the dynamics of the first Groupama Social Impact Debt Fund, launched in 2022 and focused on social impact.
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