Financing suited to our clients himonnier is a highly innovative SME, selling packaging T the world over machines all over the world. The Societe Generale network's international teams assist it with export financing tailored for its markets. With 60 employees and a factory built in a former cherry orchard, Thimonnier is an international heavyweight in plastic packaging. The Lyon-area SME builds precision machines that can manufacture and fill flexible pouches for liquid, paste, or viscous products. 10,000 of its machines, big and small, are in circulation and it earns its €12.6 million in revenue (up 18% in 2013) from clients the world over. Founded in 1870 by the son of the man who invented the sewing machine, this exceptionally long- SYLVIE GUINARD CHAIRWOMAN AND CEO, THIMONNIER lived company has always had innovation to spare. The grandfather of Sylvie Guinard, its current Chairwoman and CEO, invented high-frequency plastic sealing (PVC) as well as the Doypack®, the stand-up plastic pouch, a worldwide success. "Homes all over the world have products made by a Thimonnier machine", says Sylvie Guinard. "Our main recurring markets today are Canada, Central and Latin America for aseptic packaging, Algeria and Indonesia, where we achieved 10% of our sales in 2013." The extreme diversity of its market locations forces Thimonnier to adapt its sales proposals to local practices every time. Societe Generale’s business branch in Lyon helps the company choose export financing solutions, which can be critical when closing a deal. "We need to move forward quickly, before we even get into the thick of negotiations. So I appreciate the very flexible relationship we have with the bank's global teams. They know how to make us offers that help us stand apart from competing bids." Two years ago, for its first foray in India, a market that is highly coveted but also very challenging, Thimonnier needed an unusual form of financing, a letter of credit paid in six-month instalments over three years. "Societe Generale made a real effort to help us meet our client's requirements", comments Sylvie Guinard. In 2013, the bank also led the LBO that allowed her to buy back all the shares in the company. Today, Thimonnier is launching a line of more versatile and adaptable machines using mechatronic technologies involving smaller motors than traditional mechanical systems. The company is also taking part in the "Freshorgans" research program, which is developing a new solution for storing human organs for transplant. ■ 24 I SOCIETE GENERALE 2013-2014
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