CRÉDIT MUTUEL EQUITY, EURAZEO, AND BPIFRANCE JOIN FORCES WITH BNP PARIBAS DÉVELOPPEMENT TO SUCCEED ARDIAN IN SUPPORTING THE FAMILY-OWNED PROTEOR GROUP

Proteor welcomes Eurazeo – through its Nov Santé Actions Non Cotées fund – and Crédit Mutuel Equity to its capital, alongside Bpifrance and BNP Paribas Développement, which is reinvesting in the transaction, as Ardian, a minority shareholder since 2021, exits.

A recognized player in the orthopedics market, the family-owned company led by Edouard Archambeaud (4th generation of the Pierron family) has a turnover of nearly €170 million and employs 1,100 people. Majority-owned by the founding family group, Proteor aims to accelerate its development in France and internationally, while preserving its independence and remaining faithful to its mission of improving patient autonomy and quality of life.

Founded in 1913 in Saint-Apollinaire (Côte-d'Or), Proteor has become one of the leading players in the design, manufacture, and distribution of external prostheses, mainly for the lower limbs. The company is also recognized for its software suite and 3D printers that assist orthopedic technicians.

Historically specializing in the operation of a network of orthopedic technicians centers, whose level of service and quality is widely recognized, the Proteor group has gradually diversified into the development and manufacture of prostheses, thus positioning itself across the entire value chain. 

The group operates five production sites (in France, Germany, and the United States) and a network of nearly 100 orthopedic centers (including 85 in France), enabling it to meet the needs of its customers worldwide. Led by Edouard Archambeaud, a member of the founding family and a key player in family management committed to compensating for disability and promoting patient autonomy, Proteor works to improve patient comfort with innovative and sustainable products. The group is also actively engaged in innovation, notably with solutions such as Quattro, Synsys, and its digital suite.

Proteor's development and ambitions are supported by a global market for prosthetics and orthotics that is constantly growing and evolving. Demand is driven by the development of innovative technological solutions that contribute to greater comfort and a more tailored response to patients' needs. 

Thanks to its recognized expertise in lower limb prosthetics, its capacity for innovation, and the quality of its industrial facilities, the Proteor group, supported since 2021 by Ardian and BNP Paribas Développement, has experienced remarkable growth, particularly in the United States.

Eurazeo, Crédit Mutuel Equity, Bpifrance, and BNP Paribas Développement, alongside the management team, will support the Dijon-based group's international development, both in its innovation strategy and in external growth opportunities, while preserving the family shareholding structure. 

Edouard Archambeaud, CEO of Proteor explains: 

“Our mission remains unchanged: to improve patients' independence and quality of life. With our new partners, we will accelerate our international development and our capacity for innovation to transform our sector through digital technology and ever more effective solutions” 

Minorie Nollet of Crédit Mutuel Equity adds: 

"This wonderful family business, led by a strong management team, has strong values and has demonstrated its agility by diversifying into the design and manufacture of high value-added external prostheses, thereby moving up the value chain and expanding its international footprint. With a solid technological lead in the digital market, Proteor has all the qualities to become a leading global player. We are delighted to support the management of this innovative group with a strong social impact,"

Asnen Cassam-Chenaï, Director - Healthcare at Eurazeo said: 

"We are proud to support Proteor, a century-old French family business with a strong focus on people. Its ability to innovate in a rapidly changing sector and its direct impact on patients' quality of life are fully in line with the fund's mission. By supporting Proteor, we are helping promote a strategic French industry on a global scale and respond to major public health challenges,"

Alexis Saada, Head of Growth & Senior Managing Director, and Frédéric Quéru, Managing Director Growth, Ardian said: 

"Supporting Proteor through this phase of development has been an enriching experience. Working alongside management and family shareholders, we have backed an ambitious international growth strategy, illustrated by the acquisition of a major asset in the United States and a significant investment program (industrial, R&D, digital), while promoting strong external growth momentum. This journey illustrates Proteor's ability to combine innovation, operational excellence, and societal impact, and to establish itself among the global leaders in its sector. We thank the teams for their trust and are happy to pass the baton to new investors for the next phase,"

* This transaction remains subject to approval by the relevant competition authorities.