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itself as“ the first digital auction agency open to all three disciplines, which has succeeded in democratizing access to exceptional stock through an innovative approach.”
In the midst of lockdown, Louis Baudron and Arnaud Angéliaume took the bold step of shaking up tradition by launching a 100 % online model. A leap into modernity that notably resulted in“ flash sales” focused on accessible horses coming off recent performances. It also led to the creation of AuctavArt, a new online“ house of art and character.” Last year, the Normandy-based agency made headlines with the famous liquidation of Jean- Pierre Dubois last summer and with standout successes such as Diamond Carl in the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris and It’ s Win O’ Clock in the Prix Renaud du Vivier.
Hand in hand with Osarus True to its taste for perfect timing, the heir of Jean- Pierre Dubois and Roger Baudron continues to innovate and expand its calendar. After regaining full control in December 2025, Louis Baudron signed a“ strategic” and“ ambitious” partnership with Osarus at the end of January. The agreement allows each party to better focus on its core activities: trotting horses and art sales for Auctav; flat, National Hunt and Purebred Arabian horses for Osarus. In a competitive market, the idea is to“ combine our networks to optimize our sales,” summarizes Emmanuel Viaud, CEO of Osarus, a market player since 2008. Auctav will therefore refocus its offerings on trotting. A segment that is already delivering satisfaction. As a symbol of this rapprochement, He and Me, the recent winner of the Prix de Paris Eqwin Marathon Race( Group 1)—“ the revenge of the revenge of the Prix d’ Amérique” at Vincennes— was knocked down for € 300,000 at the age of three during the Rouges Terres sale in August 2020, on behalf of Thierry Guilbert, CEO of Lacoste. One of the leaders of his generation in trotting, with five Group victories already to his name, Meteore de Simm passed through Auctav, where he was sold for € 72,000 in 2024. Not to mention the famous record sale for a yearling: in 2023, Machiavel Bourbon, brother to the champion Face Time Bourbon, pushed the hammer to € 580,000.
AKTEM
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INNOVATION AND AGILITY: THE CREDO OF THE NEW AGENCY AKTEM:
Late 2025 – early 2026, the landscape of thoroughbred auction sales in France was reshaped with the arrival of a new player, AKTEM, launched at the initiative of its Chairman and CEO Sofiane Benaroussi. The ambition: to develop an offer complementary to the market leader, ARQANA, in order to create new commercial opportunities where supply and demand can meet. In its desire to create a participatory project, AKTEM opened 10 % of its capital at launch to include industry stakeholders and offer them additional benefits( reduced entry fees, transport assistance, etc.). The agency has also positioned itself strongly in the NH market, notably by offering a € 1 million racing super bonus and premiums to breeders with runners abroad. It positions itself as an innovative and agile challenger in a market where two existing entities later announced their merger: Osarus and Auctav. The former retains its expertise in the Flat sector, notably in the Breeze-Up and yearling segments, while AUCTAV has refocused its core business on trotting, particularly with the Vente Rouges Terres, which built its reputation. AKTEM demonstrated its ambition from its very first online sale, held on February 13, generating total bids of € 1,381,000, making it the second-highest grossing operator for an online sale in France. The sale dedicated to Purebred Arabians on February 26, in partnership with AFAC, set a world record for a foal, with the half-brother by Al Mourtajez out of the champion Lady Princess being sold for 410,000 €.
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