Cleary Gottlieb advised Mubadala Capital in the acquisition of a significant stake in Looping Group from Ergon Capital Partners and Bpifrance.
The management team led by Laurent Bruloy and Stéphane Da Cunha remain at the helm of the group after having reinvested in the transaction alongside Mubadala Capital and Bpifrance.
Cleary also advised Mubadala Capital, Looping Cie, and Ride Holding in the financing of the acquisition and the refinancing of the existing financial indebtedness of the group.
The acquisition, which closed on December 10, 2019, is the third LBO for Looping Group led by Mubadala Capital.
Created in 2011, Looping Group is a leading operator of regional amusement parks in Europe, including Zoo de la Flèche, Planète Sauvage, Mer de Sable, and Grand Aquarium de Saint-Malo in France; Isla Magica in Spain; Aquaparc du Bouveret in Switzerland; Hellendoorn in the Netherlands; and West Midland Safari Park and Pleasurewood Hills in the United Kingdom.
Mubadala Capital was established in 2011 as the financial investment arm of Mubadala Investment Company, operating six integrated businesses that include private equity, public equity, venture capital, and credit, in addition to a Brazil-focused investment business and certain sovereign investment partnerships.