Several boating companies supported in 2020
Mer Invest, the investment fund of the Banque Populaire Grand Ouest / Crédit Maritime group, has taken stock of its 2020 action. After having met with more than 50 companies in the blue sector, the structure has committed to the capital of 6 companies for a total amount of 1.8 million euros:
- Foil and Co - Le Tréhou (29): accompanying a new growth phase
- Algolesko - Loctudy (29): development of seaweed cultivation parks
- Mussella - Pénestin (56): launch of the 1st European unit for the valorisation of by-products from mussel farming
- 727 Sailbags - Lorient (56): growth and international development.
- Befoil - Lorient (56) : marketing of catamaran on foil accessible to all
- Groupe nke - Hennebont (56) : takeover of nke Marine Electronics and nke Instrumention by Alain Boschet
Accompanying SMEs and VSEs in the sea and yachting sector
Since its creation in the summer of 2018, Mer Invest has supported 12 companies. The fund has invested 3.7 Meuros. It intends to continue its action in 2021, targeting SMEs as the core of its partnerships. "We are now two and a half years behind. Our objective is to invest around ?2 to ?3 million per year. The average amount is 300 to 500 Keuros, but we intervene as early as 150 Keuros. This enables us to support very small businesses as well. We are between the business angel and the classic investment fund. Our commitments are maintained and our budget remains the same for 2021, despite the economic and health context linked to Covid" explains Philipppe Renaudin, CEO of Mer Invest.
Durable yachting, foils and smart harbour
2 investment projects are being finalized for the 1st quarter 2021. Others will follow, despite the cautious stance taken by entrepreneurs due to the economic context. "There is more vigilance on the part of project owners. Some of the companies we met in the first quarter of 2020 preferred to postpone their projects. Nevertheless, we see a lot of projects in Brittany and Pays de Loire around the foil, but also the fittings, clean materials in their constitution and their biodegradability, also on safety at sea with the detection of UFOs or for intelligent ports" concludes Philippe Renaudin
