Global Marketing Communication Group The Independents Announces Securing $400 Million Investment

Received Investment from Towerbrook Capital Partners and FL Entertainment

[The Independents group Alexandre Devetak (left) and Isabel Chovet (right)]

The Independents Group (hereinafter ‘The Independents’) announced a $400 million investment from TowerBrook and FL Entertainment as part of its efforts to accelerate the group’s growth and international expansion.

Since its establishment in 2017, The Independents has shown solid growth for over five years. With this investment, the group is one step closer to achieving its goal of more than doubling its size by 2025 through a strong acquisition strategy and dynamic international expansion.

The Independents, a marketing and communications group for luxury lifestyle brands, leads various fields including communications, digital marketing, experience and content production, and influencer strategy based on the global networks of its six renowned subsidiaries: Bureau Betak & Bureau Future, K2, Karla Otto, Lefty, Prodject, and The Qode. In 2023, The Independents’ revenue is expected to reach $450 million across Asia, the United States, Europe, and the Middle East.

Following recent successful debt financing from BIL, Soci?t? G?n?rale, LCL, La Banque Postale, and CIC Private Debt, this investment from TowerBrook and FL Entertainment brings The Independents’ total funding to $400 million. TowerBrook, an international investment firm based in London and New York, has a strong track record of supporting companies with high growth potential over a long period, while FL Entertainment is an independent global leader connecting entrepreneurs in the entertainment industry with unparalleled expertise. The partnership with these two companies is expected to provide The Independents with the financial support and capabilities necessary to accelerate growth through both organic development and an active acquisition strategy. Through this partnership, The Independents is poised to further solidify its position as a global communication, marketing, and event management partner for the world’s most iconic luxury brands.

The clear growth trend of The Independents since its founding demonstrates the results of a thorough integrated strategy that provides excellent information, accessibility, and resources for 380 top-tier clients worldwide, enabling projects in regional markets across the globe. With this successful funding, The Independents will further strengthen its position as a pioneer leading brand positioning in luxury, fashion, design, lifestyle, hospitality, and the arts.

Isabelle Chouvet, CEO and founder of The Independents Group, explained, “To continuously meet the evolving needs of clients, we must combine ways of working from new perspectives. The Independents offers comprehensive, holistic, yet practical solutions through a carefully curated build strategy that connects top agencies and industry pioneers. Now, with secured investment, we can provide world-class innovative integrated services even more effectively.”

Fahd Elkadiri and Edouard Peugeot, Managing Directors of TowerBrook, stated, “We are proud to collaborate with passionate founders with rich experience and partners who have built such an excellent and proactive team through this investment in The Independents. We have been deeply impressed by the growth history The Independents has achieved so far. Through amazing talent, excellent services, and a solid integrated strategy, The Independents has created a differentiated position in the market as a global one-stop shop. We believe there are still enormous growth opportunities ahead for The Independents. We look forward to supporting the next stage of development that The Independents will face by fully leveraging the global TowerBrook ecosystem.”

Fran?ois Riahi, CEO of FL Entertainment, said, “Partnering with such a successful business riding a strong tailwind in this ever-changing industry is a tremendous opportunity. FL Entertainment shares the entrepreneurial DNA of companies like The Independents. In fact, there are many similarities between the existing content and production activities of both companies. This investment exemplifies FL Entertainment’s capability to identify and leverage rapidly growing niche sectors within the global entertainment industry. We eagerly anticipate writing the next chapter of an amazing corporate success story together with the excellent team at The Independents.”

Alexandre de Betak, co-founder of The Independents Group, remarked, “We need partners who understand not only the industry but also culture. There is a natural synergy between the two new partners and The Independents. We are all building an independent portfolio composed of talents who share the same core values. More and more clients are seeking culturally driven brands. The new investment partnership among the three companies is a natural decision to meet this demand.”