Companies backed by French Private Equity firms realized a 5.4% growth in 2016, hitting revenue targets of €212 billion. Venture Capital funds were the most promising (36% growth) with Growth and leveraged buy-out funds - both performing at over 5% growth. The most promising sectors within Private Equity were in Energy, IT & Digital, Medical & Biotechnology, and telecom.
In the summer of 2017, France opened the world to the largest startup eco-system – Station F. The aggressive positioning reflects France’s dissatisfaction with the tag as the third best Technology hub in Europe (behind UK and Germany). Jean-Michel Wilmotte, transformed the 1920s railway depot – la Halle Freyssinet, into a 34,000 sq.mtr massive start-up space with its own three layers – services, startup zone, and office spaces.
Although the name France conjures up images of fashion, culture, cheese, wine and design, the fifth largest economy in the world is home to Renault, Airbus Industrie, Louis Vuitton, BNP Paribas, AXA, L’Oreal, Michelin, Areva, and Carrefour - some of the Global brands from France..
France's Management Consulting industry is on a four-year winning streak with double-digit growth in revenue (11.2%) for the year 2017-18. Strategy - the favorite for most MBA candidates, was the most popular niche serving clients in Financial Services, Public Administration, Energy, and Industry, with Financial Services growing its market share from 30 to 32%.
Even though before the 70s crisis, France was looking at Nuclear Energy as an alternative to Oil & Gas, the event accelerated the adoption of Nuclear Energy as the primary source despite the majority of the Uranium exported from Canada and Niger.