Why is Carmine Capital accelerating its international expansion?
Already established in North America and Switzerland, Carmine Capital has recently accelerated its international expansion. We have formed strategic partnerships in India, China, and Vietnam, as well as in Italy and Greece.
Why these countries? And above all, why now, when geopolitical tensions have rarely been so high in recent history?
Because I am convinced that it is in the midst of a storm that one must diversify risk. That French and European companies must step out of their comfort zones. To dare to expand into dynamic regions where the economy is growing. To look beyond the Old Continent alone, which, unfortunately, has never lived up to its name quite so well.
This is a constant at Carmine Capital: as entrepreneurs ourselves, we apply the same principles to ourselves that we recommend to our clients. We are accelerating our international expansion because we believe that French and European companies can and must take this step.
International growth: to suffer or to act, the choice is ours
“Small is beautiful,” we have long believed. Today, it is clear that for French and European companies, “small is dangerous.” In a world in constant crisis, destabilized by powers governed by leaders who no longer hesitate to use force, retreating into one’s national territory is no longer an option.
In this highly tense context, Europe’s power will no longer be measured by the integration of its internal market, but rather by the ability of its companies to unite to counter the aggressiveness of foreign players. A challenge that, with the exception of Airbus, no European company has yet managed to fully address.
And for good reason: whether German or French, Italian or Polish, our companies compete primarily with one another. They battle each other in their domestic markets instead of creating true champions capable of conquering the European market and then competing with their Chinese or American rivals.
In other words, I believe that French and European companies must first consolidate their position in Europe, so that they can then conquer the international market and no longer be subject to consolidations decided upon from abroad. Proud to be European, our companies must no longer be passive recipients but must become full drivers of their own international growth.
The right time to go global… provided you have the right support
Being proud to be European does not exempt us from taking a critical look at the obstacles and barriers that are holding back growth on the Old Continent. Quite the contrary. And it is precisely because the French and European environment is stifling that our companies must look further afield, that they must seek out growth wherever it may be found.
The context, however, does not seem conducive to this. Between the volatility of the geopolitical situation and the uncertainty surrounding the 2027 presidential election in France, many would be tempted to wait. I believe, on the contrary, that there is no better time to accelerate our international expansion—for Carmine Capital as well as for our clients. It is when the horizon seems blocked that we must tear down the walls. Open the windows. Step beyond our borders to seek out those growth opportunities that are so sorely lacking at home. Dare to make this effort—for it is one—intellectual, human, commercial, and financial.
Whether physical or psychological, the obstacles are real. But none of them is insurmountable. No fear cannot be overcome.
First and foremost is the fear, shared by every business leader, of facing a culture that is foreign to them—a prospect synonymous with complex integration and acclimatization to a new ecosystem. Yet without a clear vision of this new environment, it is impossible for the business leader to show the way forward to their employees.
The second fear is financial: going global means accepting a significant risk. An investment that, in an environment that is already exhausting, risky, and devoid of prospects, can legitimately deter more than one executive. Yet no one other than the business leader can spearhead an international growth initiative, champion their vision, and foster enthusiasm, excitement, and loyalty among their current and future employees.
It is clear: taking a step forward does not mean jumping into the void. Going global cannot be improvised. That is why Carmine Capital identifies trusted partners in the countries where we operate to help our clients select the best industry experts to secure their operations and international expansion.
Opening up international career opportunities
Advising our clients to expand internationally would be meaningless if we did not foster that same openness here at Carmine Capital. Accelerating our growth abroad also reflects our desire to instill this global mindset in our employees, to offer them the opportunity to step outside their comfort zones, to broaden their worldview—and, if they choose, to take the leap themselves by relocating abroad.
This step forward also serves as an example for our ecosystem: if we go global, others can do so too.
Creating value without losing our DNA
Provided you have the right support, avoid diluting your vision, and preserve the company’s DNA, going global is not only possible but more necessary than ever in these uncertain times. The idea, for Carmine Capital as well as for our clients, is not to grow for the sake of growth; it is to bring people together from all over the world to create financial value in the short, medium, and long term.