Support strategy

Wendel is an active and committed shareholder that sees its role as that of a partner in the performance of and creation of value in companies. Wendel’s ambition is to build long-term partnerships with its portfolio companies, drawing on the expertise of its teams to generate value.

Wendel expertise

For nearly 50 years, Wendel’s mission has been to support its operating subsidiaries, in line with their needs. This is a long-term commitment that aims to position the companies as leaders in their business segments or, when they are already leaders, to further consolidate their position. In concrete terms, this involves the implementation of strategies and application of Wendel’s multidisciplinary experience, particularly in acquisitions.

The successful Allied Universal investment illustrates Wendel’s expertise. The American company, which in 2015 was acquired when it was named AlliedBarton, moved through various phases of growth under the leadership of Wendel. Right after establishing its initial investment in the company, Wendel facilitated the merger with Universal Services of America. Then, in 2018, the new entity, renamed Allied Universal, merged with U.S. Security Associates (USSA), a major competitor, to become the leading security company in North America.

Partnering with Wendel allows a management team to benefit from strong advice, including contributions from investment and development teams, as well as corporate teams, including specialists in compliance, cybersecurity, or ESG (Environment, Social, Governance). Wendel’s teams work closely with the management teams of the operating subsidiaries, sharing expertise and a professional network, enabling them to achieve concrete results.

The role of our Operating Partners

Wendel’s support is also demonstrated in the operational expertise it provides through its Operating Partners. As members of the investment team, the Operating Partners have as their mission the maximization of the value of each investment by helping the management teams to define and execute their value creation plans. Far from acting on behalf of the companies’ management, the role of the Operating Partner is to be a trusted advisor to the companies’ leaders in order to support them in best decision-making and optimize operational performance. Prior to investments, the Operating Partners are involved in due diligence, providing the Investment and Development Committee with insight into the value creation opportunities and risks. They bring a seasoned combination of C-level and consultant backgrounds, also leverage the specialists of the corporate teams (ESG, IT, etc.) and our network of experts and Senior Advisors, and seek to share best practices across the portfolio.

Support focused on ESG development

Wendel’s mission is to actively engage with entrepreneurial teams to build leading companies, i.e., to create companies that anticipate and respond to the challenges and changes in society and consumer demand. We work with our portfolio companies on value creation from every angle, taking action to ensure that their ESG approach is fully integrated into their business strategy, and that their non-financial information meets the highest standards of transparency.

 

Focus on Wendel Growth

Wendel created Wendel Growth in 2013 in response to the Group’s desire to continuously improve its knowledge of new business models and disruptive technologies.

With Wendel Growth, Wendel aims to increase its exposure to the high‑growth company sector. Wendel Growth has, to date, mainly made commitments to several high‑quality technology and growth investment funds, but has also carried out several direct investments. Its multiple objective includes diversifying the portfolio by increasing exposure to high‑growth assets, generally with a digital component or with disruptive business models and developing the expertise of its team and that of its portfolio companies on technological innovations that could impact or enhance their value creation profiles.

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