International law firm Bird & Bird advised the Saphine Group on its acquisition of the Cars Philibert Group, a century-old family business and leading player in passenger transport in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, as well as tourism in the marketing and organisation of travel in France and internationally.
This acquisition is part of the development strategy of the Saphine Group, led by Jean-Sébastien Barrault, who is also president of the National Federation of Passenger Transport (FNTV). For the Saphine Group, the ambition behind this operation is to strengthen its presence in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region by capitalising on an emblematic regional brand and a strong family DNA.
The company, founded in 1925 by Adolphe Philibert and now managed by Marc Philibert, employs nearly 600 people and manages a fleet of 460 vehicles covering more than 16 million kilometres each year. The group consists of two main divisions: a Transport division, a key player in mobility in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, offering regular and occasional transport services, and a Tourism division, specialising in the sale and organisation of trips in France and abroad.
Bird & Bird advised Saphine with a team comprising partner
David Malcoiffe, Counsel
Marine Besson, associates
Lara Fizaine and
Constance Brouquier, for corporate aspects, and partner
Étienne Guillou, and associate
Mérine Avaby, for tax aspects.
Cars Philibert was advised by Goutagny, with a team consisting of partner Pierre Dord, and associate Harry Bouganim, as well as by Financière de Courcelles with a team consisting of managing partner Jean-Noël Combasson, vice-president Matthieu Bourquin, and analyst Robin Ruffon.
