About us

About us

Our identity

Sparring Capital is an independent management company specializing in equity investments in unlisted companies.

We invest in French SMEs selected for their potential and work closely with their management teams to accelerate their growth. As a specialist in supporting small and medium-sized companies, we put at their disposal the experience and resources we have built up during the numerous operations we have carried out since the creation of Sparring Capital in 2002.

We are convinced that the human factor is at the heart of the success of our operations. Our approach is based on a close partnership with the management teams and a shared vision of the development project. We take the time necessary to identify the challenges of the companies we support and to create a relationship of trust based on transparency, professionalism and availability.

Since its creation, Sparring Capital has raised over €850 million from leading French and international investors, most of them institutional. We have invested in more than 30 companies and completed nearly 80 external growth transactions.

As part of the consolidation of French private equity, Sparring Capital acquired Pechel (www.pechel.com) in September 2021. Pechel is now in charge of managing the ReG Growth Fund.

Beyond the search for high-level financial performance, we believe that value creation must be part of a long-term perspective that includes social progress and the reduction of environmental impacts.

Our company was one of the first private equity firms in France to integrate environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues into its investment policy, thus resolutely adopting a socially responsible investor approach.

Sparring Capital est agréée par l’AMF, sous le numéro 02025

About us

The team

Arnaud Leclercq CEO – Partner

Arnaud is a partner of the team Buy Out. He joined Sparring Capital in January 2015. Prior to this, he was responsible for French operations at Gimv, an investment company listed on Brussels Euronext, which he joined in 2007. Before this, he held the post of Managing Director at Natixis Private Equity.

Arnaud is a graduate of the IEP de Paris and holds an MBA from the ESSEC.

Denis Catz Partner

Denis is a partner of the Growth team*. He joined Sparring Capital in December 2002, having previously worked for Crédit Lyonnais Private Equity. From 1996 to 2001, he was with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Paris (Audit and Transaction Services). Prior to this, he worked for an automotive finance company in Switzerland.

Denis is a graduate of the ESSEC.

Johann Le Duigou Partner

Johann is a partner of the team Buy Out. He joined Sparring Capital in September 2018, having previously worked for 14 years in another independant private equity firm, Nixen Partners, where he was one of the partners. Prior to this, he has worked for Bain & Company, a leading strategy consulting firm.

Johann holds an INSA-Lyon engineer degree and an ESSEC MBA.

Sandra Pezet Partner

Sandra is a partner of the Growth team*. She joined in March 2022, having previously worked for 6 years within the transformation at Elsan (leading player in the healthcare sector in France). From 2006 to 2013, she was investor at Natixis PE and Gimv France. Prior to this, she worked as consultant for Ernst & Young (Transaction services / restructuring).

Sandra is a graduate of the ESSEC.

Adrien de La Bouillerie Senior Principal

Adrien joined Sparring Capital in September 2021. Prior to this, Adrien worked for 9 years in Transaction Services at Eight Advisory.

Adrien is a graduate of Paris Dauphine University, Master 225 (Corporate finance and financial engineering).

Raphaël Campion Associate

Raphaël joined Sparring Capital in September 2020. He has previous experiences in Private Equity at Ardian (Buyout team) and at Parquest Capital.

Raphaël is a graduate from EM Lyon Business School (MCS in Management – Programme Grand Ecole).

Diane Perrin-Pelletier Senior Associate

Diane joined Sparring Capital in September 2020. Prior to this, Diane worked for three years in Mergers & Acquisitions at Bryan Garnier & Co.

Diane is a graduate of Paris Dauphine University, Master 225 (corporate finance and financial engineering).

Bastien Labry Senior Associate

Bastien joined Sparring Capital in October 2020, after having worked for 3 years within the M&A department of Comexposium.

Bastien is a graduate of EM Lyon.

Anne-Sophie Sainte-Cluque Director

Anne-Sophie joined Sparring Capital in August 2023 as Director. Prior to this, she worked at Group Maisons de Famille as Director of International M&A and then French Operations Director, where she developed a dual operational and financial skill set. She began her career in Strategy Consulting at A.T. Kearney before joining investment company Creadev.

Anne-Sophie graduated from ESSEC Business School.

Justine Roze Associate

Justine joined Sparring Capital in April 2021. Prior to this, Justine worked for three years in Strategy Consulting at L.E.K. Consulting.

Justine is a graduate from ESCP.

Tancrède Colas Principal

Tancrède joined Sparring Capital in May 2021 after having worked for 6 years in the Mid Cap Mergers & Acquisitions department at Rothschild & Co.

Tancrède is a graduate of EDHEC

Charlotte Allard Sustainability Officer

Charlotte joined Sparring Capital in March 2023 as Sustainability Officer. Charlotte started her career in investment banking (Groupama Banque, Degroof Petercam) and then in Private Equity (M80 Partners) where she developed a fine understanding of the issues and value creation drivers in SMEs. With several sustainability training and experiences in the associative world (Fresque du Climat, Atelier 2tonnes), Charlotte has built expertise in climate and sustainability issues for companies.

Charlotte graduated from EDHEC Business School.

Anne Lafont Chief Financial Officer

Anne Lafont joined Sparring Capital in January 2022, after 17 years as General Secretary for Pechel. Prior to this, Anne has worked for Apax Partners.

She holds a Diploma in Accounting and Financial Studies (DECF).

Alexandre Beau Director

Alexandre joined Sparring Capital in March 2018, having recently worked 3 years for Apicap. Previously, he worked for Argos Expansion (Argos Soditic Group) and 123Investment Managers.

Alexandre holds master’s degrees from Paris-Dauphine and La Sorbonne.

Romane Parent Analyst

Romane joined Sparring Capital in February 2022 after an internship within the company. She also has a previous experience in Private Equity at Apax Partners Development.

Romane is a graduate of EM Lyon Business School.

Lyn Martinez Financial Management Assistant

Lyn joined Sparring Capital in May 2023, after 5 years’ experience as an accountant in various sectors of financial activity.

Lyn holds a diploma in accounting and financial management.

Natalia Baudart Office Manager

Natalia joined Sparring Capital in June 2017 as Executive Assistant, after 3 years as Office Manager at Advancy consulting in Paris.

*Growth investments are made through our investment vehicle ReG Fund managed by Pechel and approved by the AMF (Autorité des Marchés Financiers, the French Financial Market Authority) under the number GP04-000034