AccorHotels and the FCDE (Fonds de Consolidation et de Développement des Entreprises) today announced that they are in exclusive talks about acquiring 100% of the latter’s minority interest in Groupe Noctis.
Laurent de Gourcuff, Groupe Noctis’ Chairman, CEO and majority shareholder, established the company in 2008 and has since grown it into a key player in the hospitality market covering three segments, namely events, catering and entertainment. It has almost 800 employees and a collection of exclusive venues in Paris, wider France and abroad. It treats its French and international customers to a choice of upscale and emblematic venues (Monsieur Bleu, Loulou, Pavillons des Etangs, YOYO, Château de Longchamp, Raspoutine, Castel, etc.), and organizes over 3,000 events a year.
Commenting on the proposed agreement, AccorHotels chairman Sebastien Bazin said “We’re very excited about teaming up with Groupe Noctis, which has come to rank among the leaders in a fiercely competitive environment in only a few years”.
“It’s more than an enviable address book: Laurent de Gourcuff and his teams have built a portfolio of distinctive venues with strong characters that are promoting Paris on the international scene,” said Bazin.
“This alliance blends naturally into our plans to transform and boost AccorHotels with a view to catering to increasingly discerning customers’ wants and needs beyond the travel universe.”
The FCDE invested €11 million in Noctis over 2013 and 2014, to help it roll out its strategically important events business, in particular through acquisitions, enabling it to grow into one of the key groups in its market and build one of the most remarkable asset portfolios in Paris. Over the past four years, it has grown revenues by 250%.
It has signed agreements to open about 10 new venues including Restaurant Girafe (Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine, Paris 16), Electric (Porte de Versailles, Paris 16), Compagnie 1837 (Saint Lazare train station, Paris 9), the rooftop restaurant at 52 Champs-Elysées (Paris 8). These projects will cement the group’s position in the hospitality market and rank it among the leading entertainment companies in Paris.
By investing in a top-tier Paris-based events, catering and entertainment specialist, AccorHotels is cementing its leadership in the City of Lights, a prominent destination for international and local customers seeking original and exclusive venues.
Through this strategic partnership, Noctis will be able to tap into AccorHotels’ unrivaled expertise in creating customer experiences, nurturing loyalty and providing top-of-the-range services with a personal touch for increasingly discerning clients – in particular to address French and international business clients’ requirements.
The operation under consideration will be submitted to employee representatives for consultation.