Portfolio

Nature of Business

Empruntis.com was founded in 2000 and has quickly become France's leading online broker of financial products. Its website allows consumers seeking a mortgage, personal loan or insurance (car, home or health insurance) to obtain a real-time comparison of a variety of products provided by banks and insurance companies. Its business model is based on receiving commission from partners according to the amount of new business generated from Empruntis' website. Its powerful IT platform allows it to carefully manage the entire value-added chain. The company works with over 120 partners, including major banking and insurance institutions. Empruntis has decided to remain a pure online player, so that it can rapidly respond to the changing market and generate a high profit margin.

Through expertise gained from its investment in Interhyp, the leading online mortgage broker in Germany, 3i recognised Empruntis' growth drivers and convinced the management team of its ability to support the company. Empruntis is aiming to double the brokerage business by 2010, and to grow the business by expanding its offering to include loan refinancing, personal insurance, tax-exempt products etc.

3i sold its 40% stake to the French leading insurance group Covea in February 2008