Crédit Mutuel Equity
Crédit Mutuel Equity is the permanent-capital private equity arm of Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale, investing its own balance-sheet capital in French and international SMEs, mid-sized companies, and innovative startups through a 350+ company portfolio.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersParis, France
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Crédit Mutuel Equity does
Crédit Mutuel Equity is the permanent-capital private equity arm of Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale, one of France's largest cooperative banking groups. The firm, rebranded in 2020 from CM-CIC Investissement, invests its own balance-sheet capital over the long term in French and international SMEs and mid-sized companies (ETIs), with no fund-cycle exit pressure. It operates a dual strategy: capital-croissance (growth equity for established companies) under the Crédit Mutuel Equity brand, and capital-innovation (seed-to-Series B venture) through its sister entity Crédit Mutuel Innovation. As of the latest data, the firm holds more than 350 portfolio companies across agrifood, healthcare, industrial manufacturing, services, hospitality, and technology, and has a parallel community of 350+ portfolio-company executives that functions as a referral and learning network.
The business model generates returns through capital appreciation on equity investments, management economics on assets under management, and carried interest on exits, supplemented by co-investment activity with partners such as Bpifrance, Pyrénées Gascogne Développement, and Océan Participations. Deal flow is sourced primarily through direct regional relationship coverage from offices in Paris, Bordeaux, Lyon, and Rennes, supplemented by international offices in Montreal (Canada) and Zurich/Geneva (Switzerland). The firm does not develop proprietary technology; rather, it supports portfolio-company digital and operational transformations, including exposure to AI-enabled companies such as HiringBranch, Makila AI, and Standing Ovation.
The firm is a private, wholly-owned subsidiary of Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale, has 51-100 employees, and positions itself on mutualist values and patient ownership as the principal differentiator from fund-based PE peers. It is governed by a Directoire including Christophe Tournier and a broader team of Executive Directors and Investment Directors distributed across its French regional offices, with subsidiary operations in Canada (CIC Capital Ventures / Crédit Mutuel Equity Canada) and Switzerland (Crédit Mutuel Equity Switzerland).
Crédit Mutuel Equity firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Crédit Mutuel Equity
- Legal name
- Crédit Mutuel Equity
- Website
- https://creditmutuel-equity.eu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Crédit Mutuel Equity is the permanent-capital private equity arm of Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale, investing its own balance-sheet capital in French and international SMEs, mid-sized companies, and innovative startups through a 350+ company portfolio.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Crédit Mutuel Equity is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paris
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices7 records
Markets served
Crédit Mutuel Equity business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Capital Growth Investment Returns: Returns generated from equity investments in portfolio companies through capital appreciation, business transformation value creation, and eventual exits via trade sales, secondary transactions, or IPOs. Crédit Mutuel Equity invests its own permanent capital (not time-limited funds), enabling patient ownership through multiple cycles.
- Management and Performance Fees: Generates recurring fee income through management fees on assets under management and performance fees (carried interest) on investment returns, consistent with standard private equity and venture capital models.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Capital-croissance (Growth Equity) — majority stakes or significant minority stakes in established SMEs/ETIs |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Capital-innovation (Innovation Capital / Venture) — early to mid-stage start-ups and growth companies |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Crédit Mutuel Equity product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Crédit Mutuel Equity is a private equity firm that invests its own permanent capital over the long term in French and international SMEs, mid-sized companies (ETIs), family businesses, and innovative startups. It operates two main vehicles—capital-croissance (growth equity for established companies) and capital-innovation (venture capital for startups via Crédit Mutuel Innovation)—providing equity financing for business transformation, succession, international expansion, and growth acceleration. It supplements capital with a 350+ executive community network and sector expertise (e.g., agrifood) to support portfolio companies.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Capital-croissance (Growth Equity) Investments Long-term equity investments in established, profitable French SMEs and mid-sized companies (ETIs) seeking transformation, succession solutions, or international expansion. Crédit Mutuel Equity takes majority or significant minority stakes, deploying its own permanent capital to support business model transformation, capital transformation, and growth acceleration over multiple economic cycles.
- Capital-innovation (Venture Capital) Investments Venture capital investments in early-to-mid-stage startups and growth companies, operated via the sister vehicle Crédit Mutuel Innovation and Crédit Mutuel Equity's venture team. Targets seed to Series B rounds in digital transformation, AI, biotech, and deep tech sectors, providing institutional capital, cross-border expansion support (Montreal and Switzerland offices), and access to a 350+ portfolio company network.
- Executive Community Network A community of over 350 business leaders and executives from across the Crédit Mutuel Equity portfolio who share experiences, insights, and mutual support. The network serves as a value-added service for portfolio companies, enabling peer learning, strategic introductions, and addressing common questions around transformation, succession, and growth.
Quantifiable outcome
- 350+ portfolio companies supported across France and internationally
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Crédit Mutuel Equity
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Crédit Mutuel Equity technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Crédit Mutuel Equity partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- CES Agro (Centre d'Expertise Sectoriel Agro-alimentaire)coreSector-specific expertise center launched in 2017 dedicated to the agri-food sector. Brings together Crédit Mutuel Equity investment professionals focused on food production, distribution, equipment, packaging, and food services. Enables specialized monitoring, deal sourcing, and portfolio support for agri-food companies.
- Quebec and Canadian GovernmentsminorMakila (portfolio company supported by Crédit Mutuel Equity) receives support from Quebec and Canadian government bodies for AI development and integration into its predictive analytics solutions.
- Sopra HR and Alixio (Europe) / Sage Consulting and l'Effet A (Canada)minorMakila AI (portfolio company) has strategic partnerships with HR and consulting organizations — Sopra HR and Alixio in Europe, Sage Consulting and l'Effet A in Canada — enabling it to respond to the highest client requirements and expand its market reach.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Crédit Mutuel Equity competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Ardian: One of Europe's largest private equity and infrastructure firms, headquartered in Paris. Comparable as a direct French PE competitor with similar diversified sector coverage spanning buyout, growth, and venture.
- Eurazeo: Listed French private equity firm with significant exposure to mid-market buyout, growth, and venture across Europe and North America. Comparable as a direct French PE peer with similar diversified portfolio and lifecycle coverage.
- Tikehau Capital: Paris-based alternative asset manager with private equity, private debt, real estate, and capital markets strategies. Comparable as a French PE peer with overlapping mid-market focus and growing international footprint.
- Mérieux Equity Partners: French private equity firm focused on healthcare, nutrition, and SME transformation. Comparable as a direct French PE peer with similar patient-capital approach to family businesses and growth-stage SMEs.
- BNP Paribas Capital: Private equity arm of BNP Paribas bank, investing in French and European SMEs and mid-cap companies. Comparable as a directly competing bank-affiliated French PE vehicle with similar SME/ETI target market.
- Naxicap Partners: French mid-market private equity firm owned by Natixis Investment Managers, focused on SME buyout and growth transactions. Comparable as a direct French mid-market PE peer with similar SME/ETI focus.
- LBO France: Paris-headquartered private equity firm with mid-market buyout, venture, real estate, and debt strategies. Comparable as a direct French mid-market PE peer with overlapping SME/ETI investment thesis.
Broad incumbents
- Bpifrance: French public investment bank and the country's largest investor in SMEs and ETIs. Comparable as a co-investment partner and broader incumbent across the same French SME/ETI ecosystem where Crédit Mutuel Equity operates.
Regional players
- Cathay Capital: Paris-headquartered cross-border private equity firm connecting European SMEs with Chinese and global capital. Comparable as a French-based PE with cross-border capability, though with stronger Asia focus than Crédit Mutuel Equity's transatlantic orientation.
- Sofina: Belgian-listed private equity and venture investor focused on growth-stage consumer, digital, and healthcare companies across Europe, Asia, and the US. Comparable as a European growth-equity investor with a similar patient-capital approach to founder-led SMEs.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Crédit Mutuel Equity social profiles
Digital presenceCrédit Mutuel Equity financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Crédit Mutuel Equity leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles22 records
Crédit Mutuel Equity subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Crédit Mutuel Equity funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Crédit Mutuel Equity M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A2 records
Investments208 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Crédit Mutuel Equity
What does Crédit Mutuel Equity do?
Crédit Mutuel Equity is a private equity firm that invests its own permanent capital over the long term in French and international SMEs, mid-sized companies (ETIs), family businesses, and innovative startups. It operates two main vehicles—capital-croissance (growth equity for established companies) and capital-innovation (venture capital for startups via Crédit Mutuel Innovation)—providing equity financing for business transformation, succession, international expansion, and growth acceleration. It supplements capital with a 350+ executive community network and sector expertise (e.g., agrifood) to support portfolio companies.
Is Crédit Mutuel Equity a public or private company?
Crédit Mutuel Equity is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Crédit Mutuel Equity founded?
Crédit Mutuel Equity was founded in 2020. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Crédit Mutuel Equity based?
Crédit Mutuel Equity is headquartered in Paris, France, in the Europe region.
How does Crédit Mutuel Equity make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Capital Growth Investment Returns are the primary driver. The others are management and Performance Fees.
Who are Crédit Mutuel Equity's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Ardian, Eurazeo, Tikehau Capital, Mérieux Equity Partners, BNP Paribas Capital, Naxicap Partners and LBO France. Bpifrance is listed as a broad incumbent. Regional players are Cathay Capital and Sofina.
Does Crédit Mutuel Equity have an API?
No public API is recorded for Crédit Mutuel Equity.