BOSTON & PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Babilou, a leading private network of daycare facilities, Cobepa, an independent privately-held investment company and shareholder in Babilou, and TA Associates, a leading global growth private equity firm, today announced that Babilou has received a strategic growth investment from TA Associates. Société Générale and Raise are also shareholders of the Babilou Group, and the company remains majority-owned by the founding Carle family. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Founded in Paris in 2003 by Rodolphe and Edouard Carle, Babilou is France’s largest private daycare operator. Serving children under the age of three, Babilou primarily runs company-owned and operated nurseries serving corporate clients and municipalities. It also manages municipally-owned public facilities. Babilou also operates 1001 Crèches, an international booking platform through which individuals and businesses can secure daycare spots at Babilou nurseries or partner nurseries. In addition, the company recently launched “Mes Solutions Family”, a comprehensive offering that provides tutoring for students as well as home care and other services for seniors. Babilou operates more than 400 nurseries that can accommodate close to 20,000 children in France, Germany, Belgium, Dubai and Switzerland. The 1001 Crèches network offers access to more than 1,400 daycare centers.
“In seeking an investor, our preference was for an international firm with a history of helping successful businesses accelerate growth,” said Rodolphe Carle, Co-President and Co-Founder, Babilou. “We also wanted a partner that shared our values, including a focus on teamwork and a commitment to quality, operational excellence and continuous improvement. We believe TA is an experienced global firm with a culture of collaboration and creating opportunity for the companies in which it invests, and is an ideal fit for Babilou.”
“Babilou has become a leader in private-management nurseries with what we believe is a reputation for excellence in providing families with tailored and qualitative childcare, and helping businesses address employees’ daycare needs,” said Patrick Sader, a Director at TA Associates who will join the company’s Board of Directors. “Babilou has enjoyed strong organic and acquisitive growth, and is increasingly becoming a global company. We look forward to partnering with Rodolphe, Edouard and their team, helping continue the evolution of Babilou.”
“Since our initial investment in 2013, Babilou has experienced continued growth, laying the foundation for its future development,” said Jean-Marie Laurent Josi, CEO of Cobepa S.A., and member of the Babilou Board of Directors. “As a committed and supportive shareholder, we have a history of helping successful businesses such as Babilou over the long term. We are pleased to continue our partnership with Babilou as we begin this next phase of the company’s growth.”
Rothschild, Acetis Finance and KPMG served as financial advisors and Linklaters, Jeausserand-Audouard and Reboul & Associés served as legal counsel to Babilou. KPMG served as financial advisor and Latham & Watkins served as legal counsel to TA Associates.
About Babilou
Founded in 2003, Babilou is the largest
provider of high-quality daycare services in France. Babilou welcomes
more than 20,000 children each week and supports more than 1,200 clients
of all sizes, with more than 400 childcare centers (day-care centers,
nursery clubs and nursery schools) and more than 5,000 professionals
dedicated to the highest quality educational standard, worldwide. As a
trusted partner with companies, Babilou now wants to meet the challenge
of 360° parenthood so that every employee can balance professional and
family life. For more information, please visit www.babilou.com.
About TA Associates
TA Associates is one of the largest and
most experienced global growth private equity firms. The firm has
invested in more than 480 companies around the world and has raised $24
billion in capital. With offices in Boston, Menlo Park, London, Mumbai
and Hong Kong, TA Associates leads buyouts and minority
recapitalizations of profitable growth companies in the business
services, consumer, financial services, healthcare and technology
industries. More information about TA Associates can be found at www.ta.com.
About Cobepa
With offices in Brussels and New York, Cobepa
is an independent, privately-held investment company with a net worth of
€2 billion. Since 2004, its shareholder base is comprised solely of
several families thereby providing Cobepa with the flexibility to have a
medium- to long-term investment horizon. Cobepa has gradually and
consistently grown its investment portfolio, with a clear focus on
investing in global leaders operating in growing industries. For more
information, please visit www.cobepa.com
