Citystar
Also known as City Star, Groupe Citystar, City Star Industry Investment
Paris family investment company founded in 2003 by Jean-Louis Charon; majority LBO stakes in €5–100m-revenue firms and real estate in France and Cambodia, some deals opened to private co-investors.
USEFUL FOR Fund managers raising capital · Business owners seeking a long-term partner · Co-investors
Family & background
- FAMILY
- Charon
- WEALTH ORIGIN
- Founded by Jean-Louis Charon, former Directeur Général of CGIS (Vivendi Universal's real-estate arm, later Nexity)
- HEADQUARTERS
- Paris, France
- FOUNDED
- 2003
- OUTSIDE CAPITAL
- Yes — also manages others' money
Investment approach
- GEOGRAPHY
- FranceAsia-Pacific
- STAGES
- GrowthBuyout
- ROUTES
- Companies (own capital) · Funds (as LP)
- STRATEGIES
- Private equityReal estate
- LATEST DEAL
- Groupe Lotus (Majority stake) · Oct 2024
Overview
Citystar describes itself as a family investment company created in 2003, some of whose projects have been opened to other, mainly private, investors. It invests in private equity and real estate in France and South-East Asia; real estate is its historical activity and about 60% of invested capital. In private equity it mainly takes majority stakes through LBOs in companies with €5–100m revenue, with a focus on real-estate industries, technology and energy; holdings include Groupe Robert Alday (since 2021) and a majority stake in rooftop-solar installer Groupe Lotus (October 2024), plus start-ups and fund commitments. It has offices in Paris, Singapore and Phnom Penh, where it develops land and hotel projects including Koh Russey Villas & Resort.
Investment thesis
Majority LBO stakes alongside entrepreneurs in healthy companies with €5–100m revenue, with specialisms in real-estate industries, technology and energy (energy transition, circular economy); real-estate operations in France and Cambodia.
Holdings & investments (8)
- Groupe LotusClimate & Energy · since 2024 · Majority stake (since October 2024)
- Groupe Robert AldayReal Estate & PropTech · since 2021 · Stake (partner since December 2021)
- Phnom Penh city-centre landReal Estate & PropTech · since 2006
- Tertio RecycleClimate & Energy
- FAMAE (private equity fund)Fund commitment
- C4V II (venture capital fund)Fund commitment
- Koh Russey Villas & ResortReal Estate & PropTech · Developed and operated by Citystar
- Ream / Sihanoukville beaches and two island concessions (held by Citystar funds)Real Estate & PropTech
People
Frequently asked questions
Citystar is a family-anchored fund based in Paris, France, founded in 2003.
Citystar invests on behalf of the Charon family (Founded by Jean-Louis Charon, former Directeur Général of CGIS (Vivendi Universal's real-estate arm, later Nexity)).
Citystar invests its own capital into companies and in third-party funds as an LP. Its stated asset mix includes private equity and real estate.
Citystar invests at Growth and Buyout stages in Real Estate & PropTech, Climate & Energy and Industrial & Manufacturing.
Key people at Citystar include Jean-Louis Charon (Chairman and founder (Président)), Frédéric Jugi (CFO, in charge of investor relations (Directeur administratif et financier)) and Emmanuel Charon (Investment Director (Directeur d’investissement)).
Citystar's holdings and investments include Groupe Lotus, Groupe Robert Alday, Tertio Recycle, FAMAE (private equity fund), C4V II (venture capital fund), Koh Russey Villas & Resort, Phnom Penh city-centre land and Ream / Sihanoukville beaches and two island concessions (held by Citystar funds).
The most recent publicly reported investment by Citystar is Groupe Lotus (Majority stake), announced in Oct 2024.
Yes. Citystar manages capital from outside investors.