Global law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (‘Freshfields’) is advising Cinven, an international private equity firm, on its exclusive negotiations for the acquisition of the Finaxy group, a leading French multi-specialist insurance broker, from Ardian, one of the world’s leading private investment houses.

Established in 2009 and headquartered in Paris, Finaxy is a leading player in the French insurance brokerage market with over 330 employees, having delivered strong organic growth and executed a successful buy-and-build strategy, including more than 30 acquisitions in France.

Cinven would be investing out of its Strategic Financials Fund that specialises in the financial services industry and brings substantial experience of investing in and growing insurance brokers. Cinven will look to work closely with the Finaxy management team and contribute significant resources and capital to further accelerate strategic value-enhancing M&A across the fragmented French market, and to drive further growth by attracting new team hires, while upholding Finaxy’s commitment to long-term client-focused delivery.

The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

The Freshfields team was led by Julien Rebibo and Yann Gozal (Corporate/M&A, Paris) and included:

Partners: Aled Batey (Finance, London), Christopher Davis (Finance, London), Stéphanie Corbière (Finance, Paris), Marc Perrone (Financial Regulatory, Paris), Charlotte Colin-Dubuisson (Competition, Paris), Gwen Senlanne (People and Reward, Paris), Miriam Perez (Corporate/M&A, Madrid)

Counsel: Radu Valeanu (Corporate/M&A, Paris), Thomas Jeannin (Finance, Paris), Sara Gil Garcia (Competition, Paris)

Senior Associates: Octavian David and Kamil Zizi (Corporate/M&A, Paris), Eloi Roche (Financial Regulatory, Paris), Célia Kirren (People and Reward, Paris), Alice Cabourdin (Competition, Paris), Asís Martín de Cabiedes (Corporate/M&A and Financial Regulatory, Madrid)

Associates: Côme Le Brun and Sarah Emile (Corporate/M&A, Paris), Emeric Tidafi (Financial Regulatory, Paris), Jalil El Khanchoufi (Competition, Paris)