CEPIM and other training organizations are joining forces around the Valto group to form the future leader in regulatory training with over €20M of consolidated revenue.

Founded in 2003, CEPIM is a training and consulting group in occupational health and safety. Led by Yohann EVENO and Christian BOUGEARD, CEPIM has established a strong presence in Western France through three training centers in Vannes, Rennes, and Nantes.

Supported by a dedicated team of 36 employees and its network of safety officers, trainers, and partner agencies, CEPIM advises companies and local authorities on risk prevention and trains their employees to work safely. The company provides training to more than 22,000 trainees per year through inter-company and intra-company programs across 8 main areas : Lifting and Handling, Fire Safety, Electrical Authorizations, AIPPR, Workplace First Aid, Work at Height, Training for CSE and CST members, and Maritime Safety Training.

In order to support their strong growth and wishing to join forces with a national partner, the partners of CEPIM appointed Pax Corporate Finance to assist them in this process. They quickly chose the Valto group, which offered them a project in which they would be at the heart of the development of its Western division, particularly by pursuing new external growth opportunities.

A new fast-growing player in regulatory training.

To support companies in managing their occupational health and safety risks, the Valto group has brought together 15 regulatory training centers from 7 companies, including CEPIM, located throughout France. This consolidation dynamic makes it possible to offer an expanded training catalog, ensure recognized quality, and provide tailored responses to companies’ training needs.

The training programs offered include, in particular, CACES, work at height, electrical and mechanical authorizations, workplace first aid, fire safety, and private security. All of these mandatory courses aim to strengthen employee protection against the risk of occupational accidents.

Created in 2024, the group quickly exceeded €20 million in consolidated revenue and is expected to soon surpass the €30 million mark, driven by the integration of new companies. Among the training organizations recently joined are CEPIM, Positiv Formation, AES, Control Technique Delinselle, Academy de la Formation, 1er Gest, and SI Groupe. All the executives of these companies have chosen to reinvest a significant portion of the proceeds from their sale into the Valto Group and continue to support their company within this new collective project. This commitment reflects the strong confidence these entrepreneurs have in the project and its growth.

Valto is supported in its growth by a family office of entrepreneurs, Builders Associés, whose members have achieved successful consolidation stories in other sectors (notably Simago, Eureka Education, and Chronos Dental).

The strength of a group that combines a strong local presence with a national network

By traveling across France and meeting more than a hundred executives, the founders of Valto, Valérian Fleury and Jean-Baptiste Bouvier, recognized both the importance of the territorial roots of training organizations and the benefits of collective development.

Valto provides its companies with comprehensive support that combines digital transformation, business development, educational innovation, and management optimization. This combination of levers allows training centers to fully focus on their mission with learners while benefiting from the strength and efficiency of a structured group.

Participants in the transaction:

CEPIM Advisors

Executives : Yohann Eveno and Christian Bougeard
M&A Advisor : Pax Corporate Finance (Sébastien Leleu, Julien Truc, Mathilde Chevreux)
Legal Counsel : Deloitte (Christophe Duberry)
Financial Advisor : Efficience Consultants (Anne-Louise Rodes, Alicia Thouvignon)

Valto Advisors

Executives : Jean-Baptiste Bouvier and Valérian Fleury
Financial Due Diligence : EY (Emmanuel Picard, Alexis Fontana, and Sarah Desmerges)
Legal, Labor, and Regulatory Due Diligence : Dune (Olivier Hugot and Farrah Ducher)
Transactional Lawyer : Dune (Olivier Hugot and Farrah Ducher)
Tax Lawyer : Winston & Strawn (Thomas Pulcini)
Financing Advisory : Finaïva (David-Pierre Roblet and Guillaume Pezot)

About PAX Corporate Finance
An independent investment bank, PAX Corporate Finance combines financial expertise with sector specialization, enabling it to effectively support SMEs and their executives at all stages of development. Bringing together over twenty-five professionals, including 8 partners, the firm has completed more than 450 transactions since its founding in 2003.