Omnes Capital's exits: SIMP

After a fact-finding mission to learn the ins and outs of running a small business of his own, he searched high and low for projects before eventually plumping for SIMP, a SME with well-known expertise in the micro-injection of plastic and rubber components and world leader in thermoplastic mascara brushes. What made you choose this business? Because it is unusual. Though small, with just 25 employees, it has a large sales base (€8.8 million in 2012) and tremendous potential.

“Growing an already well-run business was a highly motivating challenge,” says Alain Blondel, who has drawn on the existing teams in place and in particular on Eric de Bardonnèche, the current sales director, who has been appointed as director of business development. Alain Blondel joined forces with Omnes Capital to buy the company from Manuel Viegas, SIMP’s former manager. And he shares the same long-term vision for the business as his financial partner. The goal is to grow the Innovation unit through a focus on mascara and also to expand into new high value-added product niches.

He will not overlook expanding SIMP in international markets, especially emerging markets such as China and Brazil. “By pooling our energy and capitalising on our individual strengths, we are going to design new products, new manufacturing processes and win new customers. And we are going to stay a small and friendly firm,” says the business owner. Look out for SIMP to dazzle us in the future.