We will end up believing that the Hérault software publisher
Septeo likes to do her shopping near Sophia Antipolis. After purchasing the proptech Kinaxia in 2021, it now absorbs Sequoiasoft, the specialist in management, operation and marketing software for accommodation (hotels, residences, holiday villages, campsites), catering and well-being. (thermal centers, thalassotherapies and spas).
32% owned by its management and 68% by a pool of investors composed of the MBO fund, Bpifrance and BNP Paribas, Azuréen achieved a turnover of more than €35M in 2022 and has more than 400 employees distributed on seven sites in France and Spain. Its software solutions covering the entire customer journey – from online booking to check-out, including overnight management, etc. – are used by 7,000 customers and 90,000 hospitality professionals. This great success is the result of ten years of a dynamic expansion strategy led by its manager, Patrice Guyot, who made key market purchases such as Thelis France, Qualitelis, the Cafés-Hotels-Restaurants division of Cegid, etc.
Diversification
In turn purchased for an undisclosed amount, Sequoiasoft will be able to continue its growth under the name Septeo Hospitalité. The choice of a French buyer and software publisher was a major criterion for Patrice Guyot. “Septeo was by far the best possible choice to allow us to accelerate even more and continue to achieve external and organic growth. The alchemy worked very quickly.”
On the Septeo side, this acquisition, the most important since its creation in 2013, adds the Hospitality vertical – a sector with high potential – to its already existing divisions in the publishing of expert software for the legal, real estate and management professions. Human Resource Management. “Our solutions simplify the daily lives of professionals who support essential moments in the lives of 40 million end users annually: marriage, divorce, purchase of real estate.”lists Hugues Galambrun, CEO and founder of Septeo which has €310 million in turnover, annual growth of around 20% and 2,500 employees. In three years, we went from €150 to €354 million.”
International opening
And the manager, who plans to double his results within four years, is banking on the Hospitality branch to achieve this. It also opens up the international path for him. Already present in France, Belgium, Switzerland, Tunisia and North America, Septeo will benefit from the Spanish establishment of Sequoiasoft (100 employees and €10M turnover) “where we have wanted to position ourselves for years, he assures. It will be easier for us to do mergers and acquisitions.”
External growth will quickly be a question for the group. And certainly still in the region. If he is reluctant to name names – “It’s too early to talk regarding it” –, the president of Septeo confides: “The Nice region is becoming an important geography for us. While we were not present there two years ago, we now have 260 people there [les équipes de Kinaxia auxquelles s’ajoutent celles de Sequoiasoft, ndlr]. The growth strategy is initiated, organic and external.”
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