Astorg-backed Steliau to acquire Acal BFI, strengthening its position as the leading European platform in value-added electronic solutions

Headquartered in the Paris region, Steliau is a pan-European value-added distributor of electronic solutions, supporting OEM customers through technical advice, design-in, customization, and assembly of electronic components and systems. Since Astorg’s investment in May 2024, Steliau has accelerated its transformation, developing new product capabilities and services, notably around design and assembly. This has been achieved through 16 acquisitions and positive organic momentum, with the company quadrupling in size within 2 years.

Acal BFI is headquartered in the UK and has strongholds in Germany, the UK and the Nordics. Similar to Steliau, Acal BFI has built its model around technical expertise, engineering-led sales and close relationships with customer R&D teams.

The combination of Steliau and Acal BFI will create a scaled European platform of more than €750m combined sales, with broader geographic coverage, deeper supplier access and enhanced technical capabilities across most electronics applications. Acal BFI’s portfolio is highly complementary to Steliau’s existing offering, with strong positions in categories and geographies where Steliau has limited presence today, while Steliau will bring its integrated service offering to Acal’s customers, notably on full design capabilities.

Together, the two companies will create a differentiated value-added distribution platform, able to serve customers as a single partner across a broader range of electronic solutions, while delivering significant commercial and operational benefits for both customers and suppliers.

The combined Group will be ideally positioned to support customers by leveraging its broader technical and design capabilities, a scaled line card and the agility required to work alongside innovative R&D teams.

Gaining complete European reach will also strengthen Steliau’s role as a strategic partner for global component manufacturers to address Europe’s fragmented market efficiently and at scale.

Pascal Reynoud, Chief Executive Officer of Steliau, said:

“We are very excited to welcome Acal BFI to the Steliau family. This combination is not only a transformational step for our group, it brings together two teams with highly complementary expertise, a shared entrepreneurial spirit and the same commitment to supporting customers through technical excellence and close partnerships.

“Together, we have a unique opportunity to build the reference European platform in value-added distribution of electronic solutions, while preserving the agility, passion and customer proximity that have made both companies successful.”

Adrien Celdran, Managing Director at Astorg, commented:

“With the acquisition of Acal BFI, Steliau is becoming a European champion in one of today’s most strategic value chains. As digitalization, automation and AI continue to reshape industries, electronic components and solutions have become increasingly critical within the Bill of Materials. They can represent either a bottleneck or a catalyst for growth across virtually every application. This makes it essential for customers to differentiate by partnering with a trusted, scaled, agile, value-added distributor capable of helping them navigate an increasingly complex and global supply chain.

“We are very proud of what the Steliau team is achieving and look forward to continuing to partner with them as they build the company towards the €1bn sales milestone.”