The Carlyle Group takes majority stake in Groupe Lacour

FRANCE Software / Industry-Specific Software / Automotive REV €50–100M

Context

The Carlyle Group has entered into exclusive negotiations to acquire a majority stake in Lacour Group. This marks the first-ever opening of Lacour's capital since its 1985 inception. CEO Angelo Maida will significantly reinvest alongside Carlyle to remain a key stakeholder. The strategic rationale for the transaction is to transform Lacour from a French market leader into a pan-European champion through an aggressive external growth strategy. The deal is supported by a unitranche debt facility provided by Capza. Following the investment, Lacour aims to leverage Carlyle's expertise in software and automotive sectors to conquer adjacent markets and integrate innovative AI-driven features into its SaaS platform, targeting over €50 million in revenue for 2023.

Groupe Lacour, which reported an EBITDA margin of [members only] in 2023, is valued in this transaction at an EV/EBITDA multiple of [members only], to compare with the average observed in the TMT (Tech, Media, Telecom) sector (15.3x in 2023).

-> Deep-dive in TMT (Tech, Media, Telecom) market trends

Target

Lacour is a leading European developer of software solutions dedicated to the automotive industry, specifically focusing on dealership management, body shop operations, and repair cost estimation. Following its 2023 LBO by global private equity giant Carlyle, Lacour’s business model has shifted toward a high-velocity "Buy-and-Build" strategy. Its value proposition is based on a comprehensive ecosystem of tools that digitize the entire automotive after-sales lifecycle. Strategically, the group leverages Carlyle’s capital and network to consolidate fragmented European markets, integrating specialized local players to build a unified cross-border platform. With over 450 employees and a strong presence in France, the UK, and Benelux, Lacour aims to become the undisputed European leader in automotive after-sales digitalization.

Ent. Value

[members only]

Equity Value

[members only]

Multiples

EV / Revenue

[members only]

EV / EBITDA

[members only]

EV / EBIT

[members only]

Historical Financials (EUR)

Year

Rev

EBITDA

EBIT

2023

2022

Other operations with Groupe Lacour

Other operations with Groupe Lacour
Date	Acquirer	Target	Country	Sector
10/2025	GROUPE LACOUR	PROGER	ITALY	Automotive
10/2024	GROUPE LACOUR	DRAGON2000	UNITED KINGDOM	Automotive

Other operations with The Carlyle Group

Other operations with The Carlyle Group
Date	Acquirer	Target	Country	Sector
10/2026	THE CARLYLE GROUP	NIDEC COMPONENTS	JAPAN	Sensors & Optics
09/2026	THE CARLYLE GROUP / CVC	BAUWATCH	NETHERLANDS	Security & Guarding
07/2026	THE CARLYLE GROUP	SECTURION SYSTEMS	UNITED STATES	Electronics
09/2025	THE CARLYLE GROUP / BPIFRANCE	CIRIL GROUP	FRANCE	Industry-Specific Software
07/2025	THE CARLYLE GROUP	ADASTRA GROUP	CANADA	Engineering & Consulting
10/2023	THE CARLYLE GROUP	LOCABOX	FRANCE	Warehousing / 3PL
05/2023	THE CARLYLE GROUP	MEOPTA-OPTIKA	CZECH REPUBLIC	Sensors & Optics
12/2022	THE CARLYLE GROUP	TESCAN GROUP	CZECH REPUBLIC	Instrumentation & Measurement
05/2022	THE CARLYLE GROUP	MANTECH INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION	UNITED STATES	Cybersecurity Services
12/2021	THE CARLYLE GROUP	ALTADIA	SPAIN	Specialty Chemicals

Similar deals in Software

Similar deals in Software
Date	Acquirer	Target	Country	Sector
04/2023	SUMMIT PARTNERS	DOCTRINE	FRANCE	Industry-Specific Software
02/2023	BRIDGEPOINT	EQUATIV	FRANCE	AdTech
01/2023	TARGA TELEMATICS	VIASAT GROUP	ITALY	Automotive
01/2023	BAYER	BLACKFORD ANALYSIS	UNITED KINGDOM	Healthcare
12/2022	FARO TECHNOLOGIES	SITESCAPE	UNITED STATES	Industry-Specific Software
12/2022	KEENSIGHT CAPITAL	QUANOS	GERMANY	Industry-Specific Software
11/2022	VIA EQUITY	DECISION FOCUS	DENMARK	Financial Services / Banking
11/2022	PTC	SERVICEMAX	UNITED STATES	Supply Chain & Ops
11/2022	EURAZEO	NEOXAM	FRANCE	Financial Services / Banking
11/2022	PROVIDENCE EQUITY PARTNERS	A2MAC1	FRANCE	Automotive

REFERENCES

Revenue range: REV €50–100M

Note: This page provides detailed data on a private equity M&A transaction. Detailed and exact financial metrics for the acquisition of Groupe Lacour by The Carlyle Group are reserved for mynth community members. Register for free to unlock full data.

Authors: This transaction was contributed by a verified mynth contributor and cross-checked against available transaction documents and official company communications.

Target: groupe lacour

Acquirer: the carlyle group

FAQ

What transaction does this page cover?

This page covers the acquisition of a majority stake in Groupe Lacour, a French company specialised in Industry-Specific Software, by The Carlyle Group in 2023, structured as a leveraged buyout (LBO).

What was Groupe Lacour’s revenue at the time of the deal?

At the time of the transaction, Groupe Lacour’s annual revenue was estimated within the €50–100M range (FY 2023). Detailed financial figures are available to members.

How does the valuation of Groupe Lacour compare to benchmarks in the TMT (Tech, Media, Telecom) sector?

Transaction multiples for this specific deal are exclusively reserved for mynth members. Nevertheless, transactions tracked by mynth in this sector reveal an average benchmark multiple of 15.3x EBITDA during 2023.

What sources support the information on this transaction?

Data on this transaction was compiled from the official corporate announcement published by the parties, combined with independent reporting from specialized financial and M&A publications.

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