Meilleurtaux

Meilleurtaux is a leading French retail financial services broker.

Founded in 1999 as an online credit broker, Meilleurtaux experienced rapid growth. The business developed its online presence, built a franchise network and established relationships with many of France’s retail banks and insurers.

During the 4-year investment period, Meilleurtaux has strengthened its position as a leading French financial products comparator and broker with a strong brand, a reference website and a network of 250 franchises. The business has diversified from offering mortgage loans and loan insurance into debt consolidation, consumer loans, bank accounts, general insurance and SME loans. As a result, Meilleurtaux has more than doubled its sales from €21m in 2013 to €50m forecast for financial year ending 2016 and employee numbers have grown from some 111 to almost 300.

VALUE CREATION

Equistone has worked alongside Meilleurtaux to support growth and diversification into new business lines with the completion of five add-on acquisitions:

• Bank comparison website, Choisir-ma-banque in May 2014.
• Multi-Impact, loan insurance comparator and broker in September 2014.
• Online debt consolidation specialist, Préféo in January 2016.
• Insurance comparison website, MerciHenri.com, in October 2016.
• Brazil-based Melhortaxa, credit comparator and broker targeting Latin America.

Additionally, the business has launched two new websites to focus on business financing options and savings accounts.

THE EXIT

Equistone sold its Fund IV investment in Meilleurtaux, the principle company of Finizy Group, to Goldman Sachs.