Fusion & Acquisition

📝 Since January 7, professionals have noticed a significant loss of reviews on their Google Business profiles, ranging from a few to several hundred. The decrease in reviews sparked discussion on social media and Google forums. This issue turned out to be a display bug from Google, not an actual deletion of reviews, as verified by Guest Suite. Google Business Profile administration confirmed no reviews vanished. Google is expected to fix this bug soon, highlighting the importance of customer reviews for local SEO.

🌲 The Department of Maine-et-Loire and the City of Angers have handed over the management of Terra Botanica to Groupe Looping, a leader in European regional amusement parks. Since its opening in 2010, Terra Botanica has focused on plants and biodiversity and was previously managed by the two communities under a public interest group. In a strategic move, a 40-year administrative emphyteutic lease was granted to Groupe Looping, committing to a €59 million investment plan over the next decade, including themed accommodations with lodges and a hotel, and the development and modernization of facilities and attractions. The legal firm Cornet Vincent Ségurel, led by associate lawyer Frédéric Marchand, advised the public interest group Terra Botanica, the Department of Maine-et-Loire, and the City of Angers throughout the transaction.

🏦 Elior Group, an international leader in catering and multiservices, introduced a new logo featuring a bison as a symbol of power, endurance, and community. This rebranding aims to enhance the visibility and coherence among its brands—Elior Group, Derichebourg Multiservices, and Elior in France and internationally. The unified identity reflects a strategy to serve clients with complementary, custom services and showcases potential synergies. The logo also represents career growth opportunities for employees.

🏖 Four Seasons and RAK Properties partner to launch the Four Seasons Resort and Residences Ras Al Khaimah. The luxury seaside destination in Ras Al Khaimah will feature approximately 150 rooms, suites, and villas, plus 130 private residences spread over a 400-hectare site with views of the Persian Gulf and Hajar Mountains. Amenities include spas, restaurants, and a marina. Construction starts early 2026, residential sales to begin by the end of 2025, with Bart Carnahan announcing the strategic UAE expansion. Killa Design is tasked with architectural design.

📈 Smartify, described as the "Shazam for artwork," secured £1.5 million in funding, over €1.8 million, in a round led by Metavallon VC with Pembroke VCT and Mountside Ventures advising. This investment raises the startup's total capital to €4.2 million since its 2015 inception. The digital platform aims to enhance museum visitor engagement, with a 68% year-over-year increase in app usage over the past 12 months, serving over two million active users and partnering with 700 cultural institutions, including the National Gallery and the Acropolis Museum.

🤖 LG Electronics acquired a 51% majority stake in AI-driven autonomous service robot startup Bear Robotics in January 2025, following a $60 million initial investment in March 2024. The integration with LG's commercial robot division aims to create a unified software platform, shorten development cycles, and ensure a consistent user experience, with robotics envisioned as a key growth driver in automation for home, commercial, and Industry 4.0 applications.

💰 Andera Partners joined the capital of Groupe CDS, with founder Ziad Minkara regaining majority ownership. Established in 2001, CDS, a leading French independent and second European company, offers digital solutions for business travel management to corporate clients and travel agencies, optimizing both direct and indirect purchasing. With around 450 employees across 5 European countries, the group shows strong growth through organic means and successful international acquisitions.

💸 Paris, February 3, 2025 - Groupe CDS, a leading European business travel solutions provider, welcomes Andera Partners as a new investor. Ziad Minkara regains majority control of the company, having been backed by IDI since 2020. Founded in 2001, CDS offers a digital platform managing corporate hotel booking chains, generating savings on direct and indirect purchases. With around 450 employees across 5 European countries (France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Croatia) and operating 4 brands (CDS, CRC, Goelett, SIAP), the group boasts an annual hotel booking volume of €800 million. The sponsorless transaction facilitates capital reorganization, allowing Minkara and IDI to drive growth and international expansion.

📈 Arnaud Bécard, 53, with 20+ years in executive and financial management in the agri-food industry, joined companies like La Charlotte, Soufflet, Senoble, and Saria. Tasked with continuing Noe Industries' consolidation phase since June 2024 and deploying a new strategy for Traiteur de Paris' profitable growth, following a €6M capital increase by Noe Industries. Noe Industries, founded in 2020 by Michel Rességuier, Gilles Roland, and Pierre Escolier, invested in Supratec and acquired Constellium Ussel (now Ucelia) within 24 months.

💸 Naboo, a corporate event booking platform, raised €20 million in a Series A round led by Notion Capital, with participation from ISAI and Ternel. Aiming to exceed €100 million in organized events by 2025, up from €60 million the previous year, Naboo plans to expand its European presence, particularly in Germany, Spain, UK, Benelux, and Italy. Investments in AI and data since 2024 have reduced customer service research and administrative time by over 70%.