Agorastore, leader in BtoB digital auctions, and backed by 21 Invest France since November 2022, continues to roll-out its platform strategy with the acquisition of Clicpublic. This follows the acquisition of Auctelia in December 2022 and further strengthens Agorastore's presence in Belgium while expanding its expertise in judicial and bank auctions.

Since 2005, Agorastore has been a key player in the circular economy, enabling companies and public institutions to repurpose their equipment and real estate through its online auction platform and related services. As part of its international platform strategy, Agorastore identified several potential acquisitions with strong synergies in Europe, including Clicpublic.

Founded in Belgium in 2012, Clicpublic is a leading digital auction platform in Wallonia and the Brussels region for equipment and vehicles from judicial sources, with over 300 court-appointed agents as partners, nearly 100,000 registered buyers, and an annual sales volume exceeding €M 15. The company also conducts auctions for banks and leasing organizations in litigation contexts and operates in both Belgium, its historical market, and Luxembourg.

With this new acquisition, the Agorastore group anticipates a sales volume of nearly €M 180 for 2024 and employs over 100 people in France and Belgium.

In addition to robust organic growth, the Group plans to continue its strategy of internationalization and acquisitions. Several advanced discussions are underway with companies that offer complementary geographies and types of auctioned goods, aligning with the Group's ambition to become a leading European player in the digital second-hand goods market.

The transaction was completed on June 27, 2024.

Olivier de La Chaise, CEO of Agorastore, says: "This acquisition is another step in our expansion towards achieving a significant presence in Europe. Led by its CEO Lorenzo Ceccarini, the Clicpublic team brings the expertise, customer recognition, and ideal positioning needed to establish the Group as a leader in the Benelux region, a particularly dynamic area for digital auctions."

Antoine Vigneron,Partner, and Martin Bellé, Investment Manager at 21 Invest France , comment: "This second build-up and the resulting synergies underscore Agorastore's acceleration in its value creation plan. The Group, poised for further growth in the coming months, possesses all the necessary assets to become a key player in Europe."

Lorenzo Ceccarini, CEO of Clicpublic, adds: "This merger is happening at a crucial point in our journey, following several years of organic growth in Belgium and expansion in Luxembourg. I am thrilled to embark on a new phase of growth with Agorastore, leveraging our combined resources and inherent synergies."