PARIS, FRANCE: LACROIX has signed an exclusive agreement for the acquisition of a majority stake in the capital of the US based company FIRSTRONIC with its main shareholders.
LACROIX, which already has a 12.5% shareholding, will rise its equity stake in FIRSTRONIC to 62% at the end of the operation.
LACROIX first acquired a stake in 2017, which it then increased to 12.5%. Subject to the usual suspensive conditions, this operation will be conducted with co-investment from Bpifrance, who will take up a minority stake in FIRSTRONIC, through its International Build-Up Fund.
Founded in 1980, FIRSTRONIC is an EMS (Electronics Manufacturing Services) serving Tier-1 customers primarily in the automotive, industry and healthcare sectors in North America. The company relies on two production sites in Michigan (US) and Mexico, and on a team of around 1,300 people.
This operation will significantly strengthen LACROIX’s global position in sectors with increasing demands for electronic solutions. It is extremely relevant from both financial and operational perspectives.
Perfectly in line with the Group’s strategic ambition to consolidate its positions in the US market, the acquisition of FIRSTRONIC makes it possible to establish a strong industrial base on the North American continent and complete an industrial network with a multi-continent reach. It also creates a solid base to accelerate the growth of LACROIX’s various activities in the USMCA region.
“We have had a stake in FIRSTRONIC for almost four years now, during which time we have been able to observe the commitment and know-how of FIRSTRONIC’s teams and the strong potential synergies between our respective entities. Together with keeping in place a highly experienced management team, which has been able to grow the business at a rapid pace, these elements convinced us that a combination would be mutually beneficial and incorporating FIRSTRONIC largely facilitated. Proud of the opportunities afforded by a first acquisition such as this on US soil that is as structural as it is historic, we look forward to welcoming FIRSTRONIC’s teams within the Group and with them, creating a global leader in industrial IoT solutions and electronic devices for critical applications,” says Vincent Bedouin, LACROIX CEO.