RC Concept

RC Concept is changing its ownership structure, welcoming Crédit Mutuel Equity, a subsidiary of the Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale group, as a 40%-shareholder. Apax Partners Development (formerly EPF Partners) is selling its stake, having been a shareholder since 2011. Founded in 1990 by current chairman Raphaël Cohen, the RC Concept group is composed of 14 companies, each operating in a complementary area of brand communication and serving the luxury goods and cosmetics sectors. The new ownership structure will enable RC Concept, which has annual revenue of €65 million and employs 300 people, to accelerate its growth, particularly in Asia.

The RC Concept group is positioned as a multi-expertise project manager offering a full range of brand communication solutions, with 360° services that cover the entire graphical supply chain: creation and design; production of visuals and cross-media adaptation; photographic and digital printing; point-of-sale installation and decoration; luxury packaging and promotional gifts; and digital concepts.

After initially working with Maison Guerlain in 2002, Raphaël Cohen has been able to develop numerous other collaborations with prestigious fragrance and cosmetics brands such as Yves Saint-Laurent, Groupe Interparfums, Dior, Givenchy and many other big names. Since then, the company has diversified into cosmetics retail (Nocibé, Sephora etc.) and has a client portfolio of around 100 brands. Mr Cohen has also moved the group into new markets in pharmacy and mass-market retailing, while developing complementary businesses such as silver-process photo labs and the production of promotional gifts.

In early 2018, the company acquired Luxsense, which specialises in designing and producing window displays for major luxury goods houses, and Central Dupon Images, a renowned Paris-based photo lab. Luxsense will round out the offering for existing clients, particularly outside France, and Central Dupon will strengthen the Phidap team, which had already been bolstered by the acquisition of Rainbow Color in early 2017. RC Concept has an operation in Milan and a branch in Hong Kong. More recently, the group opened offices in London and New York.

Crédit Mutuel Equity (formerly CM-CIC Investissement) is becoming RC Concept's largest shareholder, alongside Raphaël Cohen and its main managers, in order to support them with their active policy of making acquisitions in related business areas and to help them apply growth strategy internationally.

"We were attracted by the dynamism of this company, which has acknowledged expertise in temporary point-of-sale advertising in the luxury goods sector in France, as well as an excellent senior management team that has proven its ability to achieve business diversification and deliver development projects. Our investment will support the group's rapid development, both in France and abroad," said Stéphane Vermot-Desroches, Senior Principal at Crédit Mutuel Equity.

"We decided to pursue our strategy with Crédit Mutuel Equity because of its expertise in acquisitions, the quality of its network and its long-term approach, which is capable of supporting a solid, consistent strategy and in particular our development plans in Europe and China," added Raphaël Cohen, who wants to replicate his business model in those markets.

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