Sparring Capital acquires a majority stake in Elec44
Founded in 2012 by Stéphane Couillaut and Isabelle Tuffière, Elec44 quickly established itself as a major player in France’s online distribution of electrical equipment. With a carefully selected range of more than 6,000 products from the market’s leading brands and a high level of service, the company is a trusted partner for DIY private customers and tradespeople – electricians. Operating from its site in Saint-Brevin-les-Pins (Loire-Atlantique), the Group distributes its products across France. Elec44, which has enjoyed strong growth momentum since its inception, is forecasting revenue of more than €25m in 2025.
After more than ten years dedicated to developing and structuring Elec44, the two co-founders will gradually step back from their operational roles, handing over to a new CEO currently being recruited. The new leader will be able to rely on the commitment and expertise of around forty employees to take the company into a new phase of development, with the support of Sparring Capital. The management team will be strengthened progressively to support this plan.
This new phase will be based on expanding the product offering, developing services even better tailored to customer expectations, and the ongoing expansion of the logistics platform.
Stéphane Couillaut, founder of Elec44, commented:
« Notre entreprise Elec44 est née d’un pari fou, celui d’envoyer du matériel électrique par La Poste. I still remember our living room piled high with parcels, and today I can see just how quickly the company has grown. Together with Isabelle, we have grown Elec44 to a scale we could never have imagined. It was therefore important for us to have the right support to manage this growth. It was therefore important for us to have the right support to manage this growth.
Today, we are happy to continue the journey with Sparring Capital, a partner aligned with our human values and with all the assets needed to help Elec44 keep growing. ”
Adrien de La Bouillerie, Director at Sparring Capital, added:
“ We were quickly won over by Elec44’s ‘pure online player’ positioning, backed by a highly regarded service quality, which has enabled it to deliver sustained growth in recent years. We are delighted to support the Elec44 team in the next stage of the Group’s development, and we thank Stéphane Couillaut and Isabelle Tuffière for their trust.”
Deal participants:
Sparring Capital
Adrien de La Bouillerie, Alice Plomion, Arnaud Leclercq
Elec44
Stéphane Couillaut, Isabelle Tuffière
Sellers
Stéphane Couillaut, Isabelle Tuffière
Senior lenders
OTOKTONE (BPGO Group) (Gilbert Diosi, Jean-Marie Pitel), CIC-Ouest (Bruno Nesti, Florent Pasquet), Crédit Agricole Atlantique Vendée (Stéphane Potiron, Florian Pineau)
Sell-side MA advisors
Unlimited Invest (Fabrice Ganacheau)
Sell-side legal advisors
Aegis Avocats (Emmanuel Georges)
Senior lenders legal advisors
FIDAL Avocats (Naomie Hourna)
Acquirer legal advisors
Corporate: Hoche Avocats (Louis Leroy, Amandine Doury, Joana Seddik, Albane Bidou)
Financing: Levine Kezler (Benjamin Briand, Gabriel Pastor)
Tax: Hoche Avocats (Mathilde Le Roy, Louise Miont)
Social: Hoche Avocats (Frédérique Cassereau, Anaël André)
Acquirer Financial due diligence
Bridge Advisory (Frédéric Claquin, Charlotte Brissaud)
Acquirer Commercial due diligence
Strategia Partners (Thomas Chèvre, Geoffroy d’Orfeuil)
Acquirer ESG due diligence
I Care (Régis Cornélie, Nicolas Forget)
Acquirer Tech due diligence
Bots & Company (Sofiane Touhami, Quentin Decock)
Acquirer Digital due diligence
Be Efficiency (Stéphane Baron)
Acquirer Insurance due diligence
WTW (Clara Not, Charline Bretagne)