Financial investor Eurazeo PME has acquired a 43% share in the European B2B courier Flash Europe International, part of Flash Group, and is investing in its continued international growth and further development in digital and innovative technology.
Eurazeo PME has invested €32.3 million in order to support the 2020 business plan of the Flash Group. Oriented toward the internationalisation and development of medium-sized enterprises, the investor acquired the shares of Siparex and LBO France, which had held an interest in the company since 2010.
"With Eurazeo PME we have found an experienced, reliable and ambitious financial partner who will support our internationalisation and digitalisation strategy,” Flash CEO Philippe Higelin said.
With the new investor on board, Flash Europe plans further internationalisation, diversification and growth. The company has been growing continuously since the late 1990s both through organic development and acquisitions. “The positive development of our business is largely due to our international focus,” Higelin commented.
The group, with turnover of €153 million in 2014, now has offices in 18 countries throughout Europe, Russia and North Africa and employs nearly 500 people. In July, it expanded its presence in Spain with a new office in Barcelona.
In particular, the capital and financial expertise that Eurazeo PME will provide to Flash is due to finance already planned acquisitions and the ongoing development of its digital platform.
Digital technology is an important growth factor for Flash Europe International. In recent years, it has focused on the development of digital platforms, mobile apps and new technologies. The company recently established a same-day delivery platform Easy2go for retailers in the French market. In addition, it has developed a patented cooling solution with three different, independent temperature ranges integrated in electric vehicles.
Comprised of several European companies, Flash Group launched a unified market presence under one single brand ‘Flash’ last year. It incorporates the long-established enterprises Flash Europe, Flash Taxicolis (a former La Poste subsidiary), British logistics provider V-one (taken over in February 2012), Roberts Europe (acquired in May 2012) and the French brand BioLogistics, which is specialised in pharmaceutical transports.
With 450,000 special deliveries last year, Flash provides direct deliveries (premium road freight), air freight solutions and premium air freight including trade lanes services, same-day services, air charter – with their own charter department – on-board courier solutions as well as multimodal freight on the road or in the air. It has built up specific competence in the healthcare sector and the automotive industry, with its global network covering 78 countries. Flash has access to more than 6,000 vehicles and 600 aircraft and works together with around 1,500 longstanding and reliable partners.
