Partners Group, global private markets firm, is expanding the shareholder base of Foncia, a provider of residential property management services in Europe. Incoming shareholder TA Associates has agreed to acquire a 25 % stake in the business, while Partners Group will continue to hold a majority stake in the Company on behalf of its clients.
Partners Group acquired Foncia on behalf of its clients in 2016 and since then has significantly accelerated the Company’s growth and market leadership position in France and internationally. In the last five years, Partners Group has transformed Foncia into a more institutionalised business, accelerated M&A activity, with over 260 acquisitions completed, and started the Company’s digital transformation through the in-house development of a new ERP software to tech-enable its services.
Today, Foncia employs approximately 12,000 people across 600 branches and manages a portfolio of 2.5 million individual residential units across France, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, and Luxembourg. The Company is expected to generate pro forma sales of EUR1.25 billion by the end of 2021. Following this recapitalisation, Partners Group will continue to lead the expansion of Foncia’s platform across Europe and complete its digital transformation.
Philippe Salle, Chief Executive Officer, Foncia, comments: “Foncia has grown significantly in recent years, both at home and internationally. A key focus for us now is to finalize the digital transformation of our operating model to improve customer service, cross-selling, and organic growth, while laying the groundwork for further expansion. Partners Group’s entrepreneurial governance and platform-building experience has been crucial to our sustainable growth and we are delighted to continue working with them, whilst welcoming our growth-focused new partner TA Associates on board.”
Kim Nguyen, Partner, Co-Head Private Equity Services, Partners Group, says: “When we invested in Foncia, our vision was to transform the Company into the tech-enabled forerunner in property management services. In just five years, we have grown Foncia into the leader in Europe through an acquisition-led strategy, and have significantly invested in its technological capabilities to build a business that is becoming the reference point in terms of service quality and efficiency. We have laid the foundation to secure the long-term future of Foncia, and, as such, are of the firm belief that the Company has compelling growth and value creation potential ahead. With this re-underwriting, we look forward to supporting Foncia through its next stage of development.”
Patrick Sader, Managing Director, Co-Head EMEA Services Group, TA Associates, says: “We believe that Foncia is uniquely positioned to consolidate the large and highly fragmented European residential real estate services market. We have followed the company for many years and are truly impressed by the work that Philippe Salle and his team have done. The combination of its quality revenue model and best-in-class technology should enable Foncia to deliver superior customer service while enjoying sustained growth. We are excited to join Partners Group on this journey and to support Foncia in its next transformation phase.”
