Arts et Biens

Overview

Arts et Biens was created in 1956 by Pierre Lévy, founder of the hosiery and apparel group Devanlay, and describes itself as the vehicle of a family of industrialists that turned to private equity around 2000. It invests €2–20M per deal in unlisted French SMEs with €5–75M revenue (LBO, MBI, capital increases, restructurings), mainly in business services, software, B2B/B2C distribution, healthcare and consumer goods, and has done more than thirty deals since 1998. It also commits about €30M a year to buyout funds in Europe, Canada and the US and is an investor in more than 25 funds, including Montefiore Investment and Archimed. Its most recent listed investment is The Corporate Gym (2025), described on its site as an LBO.

Investment thesis

Majority or significant minority stakes in French SMEs with €5–75M revenue in business services, software, B2B/B2C distribution, healthcare and consumer goods; management equity incentives over five to seven years; buyout funds that are entrepreneurial, majority/active and sector-specialised.

Holdings & investments (17)

• The Corporate GymNOTABLE
  Consumer & E-commerce · since 2025
• Fugam (pecheur.com, chasseur.com)
  Consumer & E-commerce · since 2021
• Arteum
  Consumer & E-commerce · since 2017 · Exited 2024
• Early Birds
  Software & SaaS · since 2017 · Exited 2019
• Dai Dai
  Consumer & E-commerce · since 2017 · Exited 2024
• Bocamexa
  Consumer & E-commerce · since 2015
• Le Camion qui fume
  Consumer & E-commerce · since 2014
• Homair Vacances (European Camping Group)
  Consumer & E-commerce · since 2014 · Exited 2022 (co-investment with Montefiore)
• Archimed (funds)
  since 2014 · LP since its 2014 fund (fund commitment)
• Prenax
  Software & SaaS · since 2012 · Exited 2018
• Mezzo di Pasta
  Consumer & E-commerce · since 2008 · Exited 2011 (sold to Bridgepoint Development Capital)
• B&B Hotels
  Consumer & E-commerce · since 2005 · Exited 2016 (co-investment with Montefiore; second LBO 2010)
• Yacast
  Media & Entertainment · since 2003 · Exited 2012
• Synertrade
  Software & SaaS · since 2000 · Exited 2015 (sold to Econocom)
• Aquarelle.com
  Consumer & E-commerce · since 1999
• Devanlay
  Consumer & E-commerce · since 1931 · Exited 1998 (34% stake, sold to Maus Frères)
• Montefiore Investment (funds)
  LP for over 15 years (fund commitment)

People

• François Renaud
  Investment Manager (Chargé d’investissement) · source
• Adrien Lévy
  President and board member · source
• Hugo Brossard
  Chief Financial Officer · source
• Guillaume Charlin
  Senior Advisor · source
• Benjamin Lévy
  Board member · source
• Félix Lévy
  Board member · source
• François Lévy
  Board member · source
• Sarah-Louise Lévy
  Board member · source
• Alain Roubach
  Board member · source
• Fabien Sultan
  Board member · source

Classification

Family Holding. A family's holding company that owns stakes in several separate businesses or invests beyond its own group, without calling itself a family office. How family capital is classified →