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In 2018, Bruno Léa launched the 1st SF in France, and in just 15 months, he successfully closed the acquisition of Performer Group with 17 investors. These included leading funds such as Relay Investments, Istria Capital, and JB46, as well as others like Finaves V, the fund of his alma mater, IESE Business School, and five French private investors. Since then, the independent distributor of CNC machine tools has experienced strong growth, successfully completed and integrated two acquisitions in France and Spain and is on the look-out for international build-up. Performer Group has increased its revenue 2.8 times in five years, from €19M in 2019 to €54M in 2024.
After reducing its debt ratio, the group executed a €25M refinancing operation including a minority shareholder buy-back, a working capital facility and an uncommitted capex line for buildup (structured as 60% Tranche A and 40% Tranche B). This refinancing aligned the company’s debt structure with its strategic ambitions while providing liquidity to certain minority shareholders through a share buyback (approximately 25% exited the company, including Finaves) and strengthening management’s position in the company’s capital. Caisse d’Épargne acted as the lead arranger, with BNP Paribas, Société Générale, and Banque Populaire providing the senior debt.
Performer Group serves a base of 3,500 clients, including industrial SMEs operating in aerospace, automotive, construction, and agriculture. It generates more than one-third of its revenue from international markets and is a key partner of HAAS Automation, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of machine tools. The Group offers value-added services (used machines, leasing, maintenance) and operates a network of nine showrooms with a team of 80 employees across France, Spain, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia.
Under the leadership of Bruno Léa, Chairman and reference shareholder, Performer has positioned itself as a market leader, demonstrating its ability to combine organic growth and strategic diversification. To strengthen the company’s governance, the Group has separated the roles of Chairman and General Manager appointing Yves Lichtenberger—who had served as Deputy General Manager since 2021—as its new General Manager working closely with the Management Committee composed of the CFO, the Sales Director, the Service Director and the Managing Director for Spain.
“This refinancing and capital restructuring operation represents a key milestone for Performer, consolidating our current position while equipping us with the necessary means to seize new growth opportunities, both in France and internationally,” states Bruno Léa.
