Amethis has acquired a significant minority stake in Groupe Premium, an industrial equipment distributor in Morocco and now present in West Africa, to support the firm’s African expansion.

"We are pleased to support Premium's expansion in francophone Sub-Saharan Africa and to have accompanied the group in the ATS network's acquisition. We are convinced that the Sub-Saharan expansion will be a success, fostered by Premium's historic brands' portfolio, strong technical expertise, high quality of after-sales services and ability once again demonstrated with ATS' takeover to foster growth with strategic acquisitions,” said Jean-Thomas Lopez, Portfolio Manager at Amethis.

Family business founded in 1949, Premium has become over the years a major player of the equipment distribution in Morocco in the industry, mining and quarrying, construction and agriculture sectors thanks to its portfolio of leading international brands. 

Groupe Premium has partnered with more than 50 internationally recognized brands: Liebherr, Linde, Manitou, Bomag, Putzmeister, Sandvik, John Deere and has a demonstrated track record of successful strategic acquisitions in Morocco that have fostered its growth in the last 20 years.

Amethis invests in Premium at a turning point in its development: Premium expanded in Sub-Saharan Africa with the launch of two subsidiaries in Senegal and Ivory Coast in 2013 and 2014 respectively. 

This geographic expansion accelerated strongly in 2017 with the acquisition from Necotrans of the ATS network that distributes IVECO and ASTRA brands in Ivory Coast, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo and Cameroon. 

"We are happy to partner with Amethis. This investment will allow us to benefit from our partner's strong experience in Sub-Saharan Africa and from a strengthened capital base to accomplish our strategic vision: become a panafrican leader in B2B equipment distribution,” said Eric Lefort, CEO of Groupe Premium.