Alantra raises convertible bonds and senior debt to finance the shareholding reorganization of the Dragon Bleu / Venum group

With this operation, Franck Dupuis (CEO and Founder of Dragon Bleu / Venum) is back to being the sole group shareholder through the acquisition of a significant minority shareholder, financed by convertible bonds and bank debt

• Founded in 2004, the group is the world leader in the design and distribution of combat sports equipment and apparel (MMA, Boxing, Brazilian Jui-Jitsu) sold in over 50 countries under the Venum brand

• The group will continue its international development with the support of Trocadero Capital Partners and ambitions to quadruple sales within 5 years

Paris– Alantra acted as sole financial advisor to Dragon Bleu / Venum group, holding company of Dragon Bleu (France), DBV (USA) and V-Tec (Hong-Kong), in the raising of convertible bond and senior debt to finance the reorganization of the group shareholding structure through the acquisition of a minority shareholder.

Founded by Franck Dupuis, the group is the world leader of combat sports equipment and apparel (MMA, Boxing, Jui-Jitsu) sold under the Venum brand in over 50 countries. The group started as an online retailer of combat sports equipment and apparel through the www.dragonbleu.fr website. In 2006, the group launched Venum (www.venum.com), its own brand, perfectly in line with athletes’ needs (price and quality) and quickly became a reference brand thanks to a historical sponsoring partnership with the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Champion). Since then, Venum has extended its product lines to offer high quality products in other sports (Fitness, Boxing‚Ķ).

This operation, financed in majority by Trocadero Capital Partners, allows Franck Dupuis to become, once again, the sole shareholder of the group.

The group is now targeting new sports (e.g. English Boxing, Karaté or Cross-Training) to accelerate its international development.

“Our goal is to accelerate our organic growth through the diversification of product offering to target new sports and enter new geographies. The collaboration with Trocadero Capital Partners will help us structure our organization while keeping our working habits and our reactivity” comments Franck Dupuis, Founder and CEO.

“We are very excited that we have been able to assist Franck Dupuis in taking back the full control of his group. He created a great brand with an incredible potential. Such a deal is characteristic to what Alantra does: providing corporate finance solution to mid-market entrepreneurs”

ALANTRA (M&A Advisory): Olivier Guignon, Franck Noat, Antoine Telle, Mathieu Theuret

ALERION (Legal Advisory): Christophe Gerschel, Antoine Rousseau, Léa Evrard