WCP IMPACT DEV is making its third investment with a stake in the WebForce3 group, a key French player in digital training for the public.
Founded in 2014 by Alain Assouline, WebForce3 provides answers to the challenges linked to the digital transformation of French companies through a network of over 50 schools in France and 750 professional trainers.
WebForce3 offers training in digital professions based on innovative pedagogical methods, both face-to-face, and telepresence. The group provides intensive, short, diploma and job-oriented training courses for all audiences, regardless of their background, age, or diploma, and particularly for so-called “vulnerable” audiences or current employees who need to acquire new skills to access, maintain or change jobs. Historically based on a 100% Bootcamp model (accelerated training), since the end of 2020, the Group has been offering alternating training courses, with the ambition of rapidly reaching 50% of learners on alternating courses.
Since its creation, the Group has trained and accompanied more than 6,000 learners and professionals, with a 90% positive outcome.
The activity responds to major societal challenges, at the heart of current public policy priorities in terms of integration and job retention.
WCP IMPACT DEV is the positive impact private equity fund of Weinberg Capital Partners. Created in 2020 by Cédric Weinberg and Sacha Talmon, it is positioned as a player in the sustainable transition and invests in French companies that positively address environmental and/or societal issues or that wish to move their business model towards greater sustainability. The fund obtained the “Relance” label delivered by the Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Recovery in November 2020.
Convinced of the correlation between sustainable development and economic and financial performance, WCP IMPACT DEV supports exemplary unlisted, growing, and profitable companies, seeking to reconcile financial performance with the general interest. The fund, therefore, focuses on both financial and non-financial criteria. As a responsible investor, WCP IMPACT DEV donates a significant part of its remuneration to Télémaque, an association under the French law of 1901 that supports deserving schoolchildren from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Founded in 2005 by Serge Weinberg and Philippe Klocanas, WCP is a leading private equity investor in French SMEs and SMIs, with €1.5 billion of assets under management.
Initially focused on French mid-cap LBOs, WCP expanded its activities to real estate in 2007, then to active, friendly, and long-term investment in listed companies in 2015, and finally to impact investing with the WCP IMPACT DEV fund.
Since its inception, WCP has been distinguished by its institutional positioning, its roots as a responsible investor, and its closeness to the management of its investments, which is linked to the operational experience of its partners. The WCP team currently has 32 employees.
WCP has been a signatory of the Principles for Responsible Investment since 2011 (A+ rating). It is also a member of the International Climate Initiative.
Laurence Roy-Rojo | Partner – Investor Relations
laurence.royrojo@weinbergcapital.com | + 33 1 53 53 55 16 |www.weinbergcapital.com
