A consortium comprising Andera Partners, via its fund WINCH Capital 4, and Omnes, via its fund Omnes Croissance 4, is taking a majority shareholding in the group SPHEREA, alongside management and its existing financial shareholders ACE Management, via Aerofund III, and IRDI-SORIDEC Gestion, via SCR fund IRD).
Since its spin-out from the Airbus group in 2014, SPHEREA has established itself as a specialist in technological test solutions for civil and military clients.
SPHEREA offers modular technology solutions for the entire lifecycle of electronic systems. A recognised market integrator, which has developed a wide range of products dedicated to electronic tests, such as the ATEC Series automatic test benches used in maintaining most Airbus and Boeing aircraft, the group relies on the synergy of its professional expertise in the fields of electronics, microwave, optronics, and power electronics. Since its exit in 2014 from the Airbus group, SPHEREA has diversified into energy and rail sectors.
The Group’s development dynamic is supported by an excess of 600 customers worldwide including Airbus, Dassault, Honeywell, Lufthansa Technik, DGA, Nahema, Thales, Comac, EDF, Schneider, RTE, SNCF and Alstom).
SPHEREA generated around EUR130 million in turnover in 2018, half of which came from exports (50 countries), and employs over 600 staff in France, Germany, the UK., the US and in Asia.
Christian Dabasse, CEO and Chairman of SPHEREA, says: “Our raison d’être is to ensure the reliability and security of our customers’ critical systems, we intervene where human life is at stake. Research and innovation are essential axes in a changing world in paradigm shift. Our new financial partners will enable us to expand our offering through increased R&D that responds to these challenges, as well as an ambitious external growth policy, both in France and abroad, on related trades or on new technologies in line with our mission. I especially thank Thierry Letailleur who, in 2014, as Chairman of ACE Management and IRDI, was kind enough to support me in the creation of SPHEREA, and today allows us to enter a new phase of development.”
