Archipel, a fast-growing accounting services group, has raised €50 million in equity from Alpera Partners, a long-term investment holding specialized in sector consolidation strategies. Archipel’s ambition is to become a market leader by bringing together independent firms that share common values of autonomy and ambition, while investing in their growth to address the technological, economic, and generational shifts transforming the profession.
A first milestone acquisition: Groupe Rey, with a strong pipeline
Archipel has already welcomed Groupe Rey, one of the pioneers in the sector, with two offices in Paris and Rennes and a team of 54 professionals. This first acquisition illustrates Archipel’s strategy: uniting high-performing firms, providing them with enhanced resources, and building an attractive model for accountants and their teams.
Beyond this initial step, Archipel is in exclusive talks with several other firms and expects to reach €15 million in consolidated revenue by mid-2025, €30 million by the end of 2025, and €150 million by 2029. Its growth plan combines strong organic expansion with the acquisition of around five firms per year.
Accounting services: a market in profound transformation
In France, the accounting services sector represents a €20 billion market, with nearly 19,500 firms employing more than 146,000 people. Accountants are a cornerstone of the French economy, acting as trusted partners for business leaders. Yet the sector is undergoing deep change, facing major challenges such as accelerating digitalization and a growing talent shortage. With 30% of firms struggling to hire, the industry will need to attract more than 12,000 new professionals by 2025.
Archipel aims to provide concrete answers to these challenges by supporting digital adoption, improving recruitment and retention, offering higher-value services beyond traditional accounting, and helping firms manage generational succession as 50% of partners are over 50 years old.
Archipel’s innovative model: independence with scale
Archipel has developed a unique approach combining local independence with national scale. While firms remain autonomous, the group provides them with strategic and operational resources to accelerate growth:
- Advanced technology support, including e-invoicing, automation, and AI adoption.
- Recruitment and HR support to help firms attract and retain top talent.
- Transition towards higher value-added services such as financial advisory, transaction services, and wealth management.
- Career development, training, and a stable framework for employees.
- Expanded advisory services for clients, thanks to the scale and resources of the group.
- Value-sharing through co-investment opportunities, allowing firms to become co-shareholders of Archipel.
Matthieu Luneau, Co-CEO of Archipel, commented:
“We are building a network of ambitious firms that remain independent while benefiting from the strength of a larger group. With Archipel, accountants don’t just adapt to change — they help shape it. With the support of Alpera Partners, we will accelerate our growth and establish ourselves as the new generation leader in accounting services.”
Maxime Ridel, Co-CEO of Archipel, added:
“The profession is being reshaped by technology and market dynamics. This is both a challenge and an opportunity to reinvent the role of accountants. With this equity raise, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting firms and their teams in this transition, giving them the tools to enrich their service offering, strengthen their advisory role, and secure sustainable growth — while preserving their independence.”
On the integration of Groupe Rey, Arnaud Brossier, President of Groupe Rey, noted:
“In a sector undergoing rapid transformation and consolidation, joining this network is a unique opportunity for firms like ours to continue growing sustainably while maintaining independence and close relationships with clients.”
Basile Paul-Petit, Partner at Alpera Partners, concluded:
“We chose to support Archipel because we strongly believe in its growth model and its ability to build a leading group in the accounting sector. This financing will allow Archipel to accelerate its development, invest in digitalization, and attract new talent to become a top-tier player in the market.”
About Archipel
Archipel is a group dedicated to consolidating and developing accounting firms, targeting €150 million in revenue by 2029 through a mix of organic growth and acquisitions. Integrating around five firms per year, Archipel’s partnership model respects local independence while providing strategic, technological, and operational resources to accelerate growth.
About Groupe Rey
Founded in 1945, Groupe Rey is an independent accounting firm with offices in Paris and Rennes. With four partners, 54 professionals, and over 350 clients, the firm serves businesses of all sizes, from SMEs to listed groups. Its comprehensive offering spans audit, accounting, outsourcing, and financial advisory, with a reputation built on commitment, trust, and integrity.
About Alpera Partners
Alongside bold entrepreneurs, Alpera Partners creates, develops, and scales the leading groups of tomorrow through roll-up platforms. Each year, Alpera Partners invests over €200 million in equity to consolidate micro-cap companies in fragmented, high-growth markets, supporting both organic and external growth. Its focus sectors are healthcare, industry, business services, and real estate.
With Archipel, Alpera Partners has now launched five roll-up platforms in hospitality (Otelium), nuclear (Alfeor), healthcare (Enosium Life Science), accounting services (Archipel), and vertical software (Comet Software), in addition to its established veterinary healthcare platform (Novavet).
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