Vincent Couturier and Samuel Doyon-Bissonnette of the executive management team have bought back all shares held by Desjardins Capital in a Management Buyout
LONGUEUIL, CANADA, OCTOBER 28, 2020 – Unicel Architectural Corp., manufacturer of Vision Control ®, timber and aluminum curtain walls and skylight solutions, announces that Vincent Couturier and Samuel Doyon-Bissonnette, have completed the successful management buyout transaction from Desjardins Capital. The deal means the management team acquires the balance of shareholdings, giving Vincent and Samuel, son and stepson respectively of Jean-François Couturier, President of Unicel Architectural, majority stake in Unicel Architectural while Jean-François Couturier and Viviane Chan continue as minority shareholders.
Unicel Architectural is celebrating 56 years in operation as a Quebec-based organization, leveraging its patented technology of Vision Control and the successful 2018 acquisition of IC2 Technologies to become a North American leader in delivering innovative solutions for construction projects of all sizes.
“The buyout was an important and significant milestone in the next chapter for Unicel Architectural”, added Jean-François Couturier. “Vincent and Samuel needed time to learn the business and bring a new level of experience, integrity and effective execution in their focus on future growth and innovation. Vincent and Samuel will continue to be guided strategically by Jean-François Tremblay, appointed as General Manager in 2019 by the board of directors established by Desjardins Capital”.
The success of Unicel Architectural is based on solid principles of delivering value to clients, hiring and retaining talented people. “We are proud to become together majority shareholders of Unicel Architectural, a growing company which has practically doubled its revenue since 2017, thanks to the vision of our father and dedication of our hard-working employees. We also recognize and are grateful to Desjardins Capital, the contribution of which has made our entrepreneurial dream a reality, and this under winning conditions”, stated Vincent Couturier and Samuel Doyon-Bissonnette.
“The buyout of the shares by two members of Unicel Architectural’s executive team and members of Jean-François Couturier’s family is a perfect illustration of our business model which consists over the long term, of enhancing, supporting and keeping the flagships of Quebec” said Yves Calloc’h, COO of Desjardins Capital. « Desjardins Capital granted a loan to the company to complete the business transfer, support the growth plan and thus remain the partner of choice for Unicel Architectural. Another source of satisfaction for us is the maintenance of the board of directors that we put in place in 2017. Indeed, the quality of governance of our companies is a guarantee of sustainability, which is as important as the financial support that we provide. »
About Unicel Architectural
For 56 years, Unicel Architectural has built a reputation for the most advanced glass, timber and aluminum solutions. These solutions encompass louvered glazing, skylights, timber and aluminum curtain walls and more, to enhance major global construction initiatives with the utmost quality and reliability. Unicel Architectural’s proprietary technology transforms glass, timber or aluminum into one-of-a-kind, highly engineered structures, while Vision Control ® delivers unprecedented comfort and control of vision, light, temperature and sound with a patented combination of integrated louvers between glass that are hermetically sealed and cordless. Unicel Architectural’s solutions are guaranteed for longevity, optimized for energy efficiency, and customizable to any design, environmental or cultural requirements. Unicel Architectural combines its market leading know-how with great design to help architects impact lives by defining the space within. For more information, please visit www.unicelarchitectural.com
About Desjardins Capital
With nearly 45 years of expertise, Desjardins Capital ‘s mission is to promote, support and keep SMEs in Quebec. With assets under management of $ 2.6 billion, Desjardins Capital contributes to the sustainability of 535 businesses, cooperatives and funds operating in various sectors of activity and from all regions of Quebec. In addition to helping to maintain and create more than 80,000 jobs, this component of the Desjardins Group offers entrepreneurs access to a large business network that supports the growth of their businesses. For more information, visit our website or visit our LinkedIn page.