Capelia

What Capelia does

Capelia is an independent French entrepreneur-owned investment company (société d'investissement d'entrepreneurs) headquartered in Lyon with additional offices in Lille and Paris, founded in 2008 to specialize in the ownership transition of French small and medium enterprises (PME/ETI). The firm structures LBO/MBO/MBI transactions and minority or majority equity participations of €3-12 million per project, targeting companies across all sectors throughout France. Capelia operates three successive fund vintages — Capelia III, IV and V — and holds an AMF portfolio management authorization under number GP-16000001 granted January 4, 2016, giving it regulated status as a société de gestion.

The firm is organized around six entrepreneur-founders (Louis Veyret, Richard Suscillon, Xavier Levesy, Pascal Teurquetil, Frédéric Fery, Alexandre Paulet) who jointly decide investments alongside an operational team of five investment directors, a deal analyst, and a Responsable RSE. This peer-investor structure — capital, governance and management all coming from active business operators — is positioned as the firm's central differentiator versus institutional fund managers, and feeds a portfolio network ("effet réseau Capelia") that portfolio companies access for business development, recruitment and strategic support. Active portfolio exposure includes companies such as Arnest, BT POWER, SNIC Technologies, 4B Distrib, Le Comptoir de Mathilde, MIEKO, EPSA, Everest and Sveltus, spanning engineering, distribution, e-commerce, specialty food, professional services and manufacturing.

Capelia earns revenue through two streams: management fees on assets under management across its regulated fund vintages, and capital appreciation, dividends and exit proceeds from its participations. Deal flow is sourced through direct outreach, professional intermediaries and the firm's entrepreneur-investor network rather than broad marketing. Beyond fund management, the firm launched Capelia Partage in 2023 as a structured philanthropy program supporting eight non-profit partners in education, equal opportunity and entrepreneurship. The firm has no disclosed proprietary technology stack; its competitive position rests on regulatory licensure, founder credibility, network access and relationship-driven deal sourcing rather than technological differentiation.

Name

Capelia

Legal name

CAPELIA MANAGEMENT

Website

https://capelia.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Capelia is an independent French entrepreneur-owned private equity firm founded in 2008 that invests €3-12 million in PME/ETI ownership transitions across all sectors nationwide, operating regulated funds (III, IV, V) from Lyon, Lille and Paris.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Equity / SME Investment

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

HoldCo / Permanent Capital ETA (FSANALAE)

Keywords

• Private equity investment
• SME ownership transition
• Management buyout financing
• Entrepreneur-led funds
• Transmission capital provider

Headquarters

HQ city

Lyon

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Portfolio returns and investment gains: Capelia generates returns through capital appreciation and eventual exit proceeds from its portfolio companies. As an investor in company transmission (LBO) transactions, returns come from equity appreciation, dividend distributions, and exit proceeds when participations are sold.
2. Management fees: As a fund manager (société de gestion) regulated by AMF, Capelia earns management fees on the assets under management across its funds (Capelia III, IV and V).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Capelia is an independent entrepreneur-owned private equity firm that provides equity capital and shareholder support for French SME ownership transitions (transmission), investing 3-12M€ per project through successive regulated funds as majority or minority shareholder in LBO, MBO, MBI, and growth capital operations across all sectors. The firm is 100% created, directed, and capitalized by entrepreneurs and supports its portfolio companies through a non-intrusive long-term partnership approach.

Product overview

Capelia is an independent entrepreneur investment company (société d'investissement d'entrepreneurs) that specializes in SMB transmission (PME/ETI). The firm operates multiple investment funds (Capelia III, IV, and V) and a corporate philanthropy initiative (Capelia Partage). Capelia invests between 3 and 12 million euros per project, taking majority or minority positions in French companies across all sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Capelia Partage: Philanthropy and skills sponsorship program launched in 2023, supporting associations focused on entrepreneurship, education, and social impact.

Products and services

• Capelia III Fund Closed-end private equity fund managed by Capelia for French SME transmission (ownership transition) investments, deploying 3-12M€ per project as majority or minority equity into PMEs and ETIs across all sectors. Aimed at selling founder-owners and management teams seeking equity capital for LBO, MBO, MBI, or growth operations.
• Capelia IV Fund Fourth-generation closed-end private equity fund managed by Capelia for French SME transmission investments, deploying 3-12M€ per project as majority or minority equity into PMEs and ETIs across all sectors and regions of metropolitan France.
• Capelia V Fund Fifth-generation closed-end private equity fund managed by Capelia for French SME transmission investments, targeting 200M€ with first closing in 2024 and continuing the firm's strategy of deploying 3-12M€ per project as majority or minority equity into PMEs and ETIs across all sectors and regions of France.
• Capelia Management (Management Company) AMF-registered portfolio management company (registration GP-16000001 since January 4, 2016) that manages the Capelia III, IV, and V private equity funds on behalf of their entrepreneur-investor shareholders. The legal entity CAPELIA MANAGEMENT provides AIFM and fund-management services under French regulation.

Named customers10 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Viens Voir Montaf'minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Capelia Partage initiative partner since 2023. Mission: Promote equal opportunities by enabling students from priority education areas (REP, REP+) to discover the professional world through quality internships aligned with students' career aspirations.
• Cordées de la RéussiteminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Capelia Partage initiative partner since 2023. Initiative by the French Ministry of National Education to promote access to higher education for young people from disadvantaged territories or backgrounds.
• Ma Chance Moi AussiminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Capelia Partage initiative partner since 2023. Mission: Durably support children from priority neighborhoods to prevent school dropout. Supports families with significant educational difficulties from age 5, complementing national education with out-of-school follow-up.
• Fondation emlyonminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Capelia Partage initiative partner since 2023. Foundation mission: Make academic excellence accessible to talented students regardless of financial and social situations. Promote equal opportunities at a major business school.
• Les AntilopesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Capelia Partage initiative partner since 2023. Mission: Support business owners and entrepreneurs in difficulty to help them navigate periods of professional and personal crisis.
• MadashareminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Capelia Partage initiative partner since 2023. Solidarity project by Handishare (adapted enterprise) supporting education and development in Madagascar. Mobilizing resources, actions and partnerships to help Malagasy children access education and improved living conditions. Five objectives: water access, health prevention, solar panels for electricity, open libraries, and road access.
• Edgar CognaudminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Capelia Partage initiative partner since 2023. Support for young high-level athlete (alpine ski mountaineering), member of the French Youth team, in his goal of participating in the 2030 Winter Olympics.
• En CavaleminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Capelia Partage initiative partner since 2023. Mission: Offer children and families creative, educational, screen-free play experiences that encourage reflection, imagination, and shared pleasure.
• France InvestminorOthersProfessional association for investment companies in France. Mentioned in shareholder engagement policy as a stakeholder for ESG dialogue and industry collaboration.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• M Capital Partners: M Capital Partners is a French private equity firm managing multiple regional and sector funds focused on SME transmission, growth capital, and buyouts in France, directly competing with Capelia for transmission deals across French regions.
• Initiative & Finance: Initiative & Finance is a French private equity manager specializing in SME equity financing and transmission transactions, with a similar ticket size range and French nationwide focus as Capelia.
• Siparex: Siparex is a French mid-market private equity group with multiple regional funds investing in French SME transmissions and buyouts, making it a direct competitor for the same entrepreneur-owned succession deals that Capelia targets.
• LBO France: LBO France is a long-established French private equity firm with a dedicated SME transmission and mid-market buyout practice, making it one of the closest direct competitors to Capelia in the French PME/ETI transmission segment.
• Sodero Gestion: Sodero Gestion is the private equity subsidiary of Caisse d'Epargne Bretagne Pays de la Loire, investing equity in regional French SMEs and mid-cap companies, with a transmission and development mandate that overlaps with Capelia's regional SME strategy.
• Caravelle: Caravelle is a French private equity firm investing in SMEs and mid-market companies across France, often partnering with founders and family owners on transmission and growth situations, directly comparable to Capelia's investment approach.

Broad incumbents

• Eurazeo: Eurazeo is one of France's largest listed private investment firms with broad buyout, growth, and SME activities. It is a broad incumbent that increasingly targets mid-market and SME transmission deals that overlap with Capelia's lower-mid market niche.
• Bpifrance: Bpifrance is the French public investment bank providing equity, quasi-equity, and debt to French SMEs and mid-caps, including direct co-investment in transmission transactions alongside funds like Capelia.
• Ardian: Ardian is a major global private investment house headquartered in Paris with significant French mid-market and SME buyout activity, representing a broad incumbent competing for transmission opportunities in Capelia's core market.

Emerging players

• Unigrains: Unigrains is a French private equity investor specialized in the agri-food and agribusiness sectors, partially overlapping with Capelia's portfolio (food, distribution) and similarly partnering with entrepreneur-investors, though with a narrower sector mandate.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/capelia

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Capelia