Groupe Profil

Cognos France / Societex, the exclusive adviser to the transaction, announces the completion of the sale of Groupe Profil, a French group specialising in the distribution of office supplies, ergonomic accessories and hygiene solutions, to Mr Louis SOREAU.

Founded in 1972 and based in Allauch (Bouches-du-Rhône), the Profil Group generates a turnover of €5 million.

In 2013, Julien PIERLOT, son of the founder Georges PIERLOT, took over the family business and continued to develop it. Under his leadership, the Group has carried out several acquisitions, with a view to expanding its presence throughout mainland France as well as in the French overseas departments and territories.

The Group now relies on an extensive regional network and around fifty sales representatives, enabling it to provide a local service to public authorities and micro-enterprises and SMEs.

With 16 years’ experience in the retail sector, having held a number of operational and commercial management roles, and as a resident of the region, Mr Louis SOREAU has established himself as a candidate particularly well-suited to taking over Groupe Profil.

This transaction reflects Mr Louis SOREAU’s desire to embark on an entrepreneurial venture and to support the development of Groupe Profil, notably by (i) strengthening the sales teams, (ii) modernising digital tools and (iii) evolving the positioning of the product range.

Societex was recommended to me whilst I was still weighing up whether to sell. Meeting with their teams helped me not only to make that decision, but also to see the process through to the end. I had a very good relationship with the whole Societex team, who were both professional and pleasant. Societex fulfilled its role as guide and adviser perfectly, providing clear explanations and being readily available to help us navigate each and every one of the challenging stages of a sale. Thank you to everyone! Julien PIERLOT, Chairman – Profil Group

Pascal Rivière