Sparring Capital acquires a majority stake in Intech Group alongside its management team
Founded in 2010 by Michel Schenck, Jean-Yves Schenck and Olivier Daniel, Intech Group has rapidly emerged as a reference player in France’s industrial automation and robotics landscape. Built through the integration of companies with highly specialized technical know-how, the Group is today organized around four complementary business units: Intralogistics, Automation & Smart Data, Equipment and Thermal Engineering.
Intech operates as a high value-added integrator, designing, assembling and maintaining complex, custom-built systems tailored to the needs of industrial customers. Leveraging a capex-light model built on agility, field proximity and technical excellence, the Group supports productivity investments in a highly competitive global landscape. Its activities span a range of fast-changing markets (such as food processing, logistics, electronics, energy, luxury and new mobility) driven by productivity pressures and the broader momentum of energy transition and reindustrialization.
Since 2017, Intech has completed four acquisitions and built a platform of eleven operating entities, establishing itself as a key consolidator in a fragmented and rapidly evolving market. Its integration model preserves the autonomy and expertise of each company while providing access to the Group’s shared support functions. Its integration model preserves the autonomy and expertise of each company while providing access to the Group’s shared support functions.
Since its inception, the Group has achieved an average annual growth rate above 17%. Since its inception, the Group has achieved an average annual growth rate above 17%. Initially established in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Bourgogne-Franche-Comté regions, Intech is now expanding its footprint across France and internationally.
Backed by Sparring Capital, Intech plans to accelerate its growth through a targeted acquisition strategy in France and abroad, designed to broaden its geographic presence and deepen its technical capabilities. This strategy will be supported by organic growth initiatives focused on innovation in high value-added segments and on greater coordination across entities to improve commercial and operational performance.
As part of the transaction, Pierre de Bergh, formerly Managing Director, has been appointed CEO of the Group. He succeeds Michel Schenck, who remains a shareholder and will continue to support the Group on its strategic priorities, notably external growth initiatives.
Pierre de Bergh, newly appointed CEO of Intech Group, commented:
When selecting our new shareholder, strengthen the support available to our management team, preserve the DNA that drives the operational performance of our companies, and embark on an ambitious growth trajectory. Sparring Capital proved to be the ideal partner to pursue these ambitions, and we are pleased to build this next chapter of Intech Group with them.
Tancrède Colas, Principal at Sparring Capital, added :
In fifteen years, Intech has built a reference platform in industrial automation by bringing together companies with recognized niche expertise, united by a shared level of technical excellence, a strong innovation culture and a deep commitment to customer proximity. Alongside Pierre de Bergh and the Group’s management team, we are delighted to support Intech through a new phase of accelerated development, combining external growth with the activation of synergies through a strengthened organizational structure. This ambitious project is perfectly aligned with our ‘Value & Transformation’ investment strategy.
Deal participants:
Sparring Capital
Arnaud Leclercq, Tancrède Colas, Raphaël Campion
Intech Group
Pierre de Bergh, Michel Schenck, Dominique Boucard
Sellers
Crédit Mutuel Equity (Laurent Vasselin),
Michel Schenck, Jean-Yves Schenck, Olivier Daniel, François Marceau
Senior lenders
CIC Lyonnaise de Banque (Benoit Rol, Matteo Andre, Mohamed Abdelkhalek), BNP Paribas (Dominique Prat, Pascale Ray), Caisse d’Epargne Rhône Alpes (Joel Kastriottis)
Mezzanine
BPI France (Stéphane Romang, Gregoire Offredic)
Sell-side M&A advisors
Pax Corporate Finance (Adrien Tourres, Robin Aquilina, Arnaud Lionard)
Sell-side legal advisors
Ydès (Catherine Couriol, Aurélien Provencal)
ARVEST Avocats (Edouard Eliard)
Financial vendor due diligence
BMA (Guilhem De Montmarin, Alexis Thura, Pierre Didry, Justine Vieilledent-Maurin)
Senior lenders legal advisors
Mermoz Avocats (Benjamin Guilleminot, Salomé Ganne)
Conseil juridique Dette Mezzanine
Nabarro Béraud Avocats (Anthony Minziere)
Acquirer legal advisors
Corporate : Reed Smith (Marc Fredj, Antea Bonito, Camille Diz)
Financement : Reed Smith (Ilana Smadja, Erij Akremi, Georges Serhal)
Fiscal : Reed Smith (Benoit Bernard)
Social : Reed Smith (Séverine Martel)
Acquirer Financial due diligence
Alvarez & Marsal (Benoit Bestion, Marie-Charlotte Ibanez, Coralie Oleksa)
Acquirer Commercial due diligence
Strategia Partners (Thomas Chèvre, Joseph Piquet)
Due diligence ESG investisseur
I Care (Régis Cornélie, Alexandre Delaroque, Alexandre Roy)
Other buyer advisors
BDO (Olivier Bertron)