Alantra advises Rafaut Group on the acquisition of Alkan Group from IDI and Chevrillon

Jun 2021

Buy-side advisory

Paris – Alantra, the global investment banking and asset management specialist, is pleased to announce that it has advised Rafaut Group, a company owned by HLD, on the acquisition of the Alkan Group, a worldwide recognized supplier of carriage and ejection systems for the aeronautical sector, owned by IDI, Chevrillon, Armand Carlier and its management team.  

Founded in France in 1923, the Alkan Group is a leader in defense aerospace carriage and ejection systems that designs and manufactures equipment intended to link the aircraft to the carriage: triggers or ejectors, depending on the type of aircraft. The combination of the two groups, led by HLD, gives rise to a genuine leader in the aerospace/defense sector, with a turnover of €150 million and ranking amongst the best European firms in the sector.  

Since HLD Europe acquired Rafaut Group in 2018, the group has pursued a selective acquisition strategy: AEds in 2019 (external fuel tanks), Secapem in 2020 (pilot training systems), and Lace in 2021 (multi-role cargo for the helicopter market). These recent operations illustrate HLD Europe’s ability to support and transform industrial groups into European leaders. The Rafaut Group will continue its external growth strategy over the next few years, particularly towards the civil sector. 

Bruno Berthet, President of the Rafaut Group, and Nicolas Orance, Managing Director of the Rafaut Group, commented: “This project confirms our desire to be a leading European equipment supplier for civil and defense aeronautics. Our transformation dynamics combined with our capacity for innovation will enable us to be a major player in the consolidation of the supply chain.” 

Franck Portais, Managing Partner at Alantra, commented on the deal “We are proud to have supported the creation of a champion in aircraft and helicopter carriage systems for defense and civil security, strengthening the French and European Defense Technological and Industrial Base”.