Barclays Private Equity France has become a majority shareholder in the Martek Power Group, a world leader in the field of power converters, along with Martek’s president and founder, Marc
Barclays Private Equity France has become a majority shareholder in the Martek Power Group, a world leader in the field of power converters, along with Martek’s president and founder, Marcel Katz, following the exit of two non-operational shareholders.
Founded in 1987, Martek Power has followed a growth strategy in Europe and the US, deploying the expertise of its 170 engineers in the conception and production of power converters for the hi-tech aeronautical, defence, medical, telecom and railway industries.
The firm is the French market leader for customised products and ranks third in the world for standard military supplies. Martek Power employs more than 930 staff in France, the UK, US, Mexico, Tunisia and China, and last year achieved sales turnover of nearly EUR68m.
Following the recent acquisition of Powertron in the UK, Martek Power plans to continue to enlarge its product offering, through research and development as well as well-targeted acquisitions. Barclays Private Equity France plans to offer investing expertise that will allow Martek to generate complementary synergies and strengthen its links with its main clients.
‘This transaction ensures continuity in the management team and the strategic orientation of the company by allowing us to have the financial means to conduct a selected external growth strategy,’ Katz says.
Adds Guillaume Jacqueau, chief executive of Barclays Private Equity: ‘The very positive image of Martek Power in the eyes of its clients, the potential of the group and the strong involvement of the management team in this project has been a strong motivation to complete this transaction.’
