Carvest Crédit Agricole Régions Investissement

Carvest Crédit Agricole Régions Investissement is the dedicated investment arm of the regional Crédit Agricole banks in France, headquartered in Lyon. Established to support the capital development of regional businesses, Carvest plays a crucial role in fostering economic growth across various French territories. The firm operates with a strong regional focus, leveraging its deep understanding of local economies and the extensive network of the Crédit Agricole group to identify and back promising companies.

Carvest's investment strategy is versatile, encompassing both equity and quasi-equity instruments, such as mezzanine or subordinated debt. They provide capital across various stages of a company's lifecycle, including development capital for growth, transmission capital for ownership transfers, turnaround capital for restructuring, and innovation capital for emerging businesses. This broad mandate allows Carvest to address a wide range of financing needs for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and mid-cap companies. Their approach emphasizes long-term partnerships, aiming to provide stable and patient capital to support strategic projects and sustainable growth.

Since its inception in 2007, Carvest has demonstrated a significant commitment to regional enterprise, having invested in over 200 companies. The firm typically deploys first cheques ranging from €0.5 million to €10 million, which translates approximately to $540,000 to $10.8 million USD, depending on the prevailing exchange rate. Carvest currently manages over €300 million in assets, equivalent to approximately $324 million USD, which underscores its substantial capacity to fund a diverse portfolio of businesses. The investment team comprises 13 dedicated professionals, ensuring a hands-on approach and close collaboration with their portfolio companies.