Houlihan Lokey Advises Latour Capital

Houlihan Lokey is pleased to announce that Latour Capital has acquired Celeres (formerly GTD Space & Security), previously a subsidiary of GTD. Following the transaction, Latour Capital is now Celeres’ majority shareholder, alongside GTD Group, which is reinvesting as part of the transaction, and the management team.

Latour Capital is an independent French investment firm with an entrepreneurial culture and extensive operational experience. With €5 billion in assets under management, the firm invests in France and across Europe, focusing on businesses with strong growth potential.

Celeres is a European technology company specialising in critical software and systems for real-time monitoring, control, and operations, serving major institutional and industrial clients. Its solutions are deployed in environments where performance, availability, and operational reliability are essential, particularly in space, defence, transport, and sensitive infrastructure. With nearly 40 years of experience, Celeres designs, develops, and operates technologies at the heart of mission-critical activities, with well-established expertise in the space sector, spanning onboard systems for launchers and satellites as well as the ground systems required for European launch campaigns, notably from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana. The company has 160 employees across four major European markets—Spain, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom—and generates approximately €30 million in revenue.

GTD is an industrial group with nearly 40 years of experience, providing leading engineering services in software and control systems. GTD Group companies operate in the most demanding sectors, providing software, systems, and services for critical and complex applications. GTD supplies clients worldwide with robust, reliable technologies for spacecraft, critical infrastructure protection, the energy industry, military vehicles, and scientific facilities. GTD also delivers intelligent robotics solutions, microchips, and cybersecurity services.

In line with Latour Capital’s strategy, the transaction aims to support the long-term industrial and entrepreneurial vision developed by Celeres’ teams, while providing the company with the resources to accelerate its growth and realise its full potential as an independent business. Celeres intends to strengthen its position at the heart of major European space programmes and accelerate its diversification into defence and the protection of sensitive sites. Its development will be driven by continued organic growth and a strategy of targeted acquisitions in Europe, designed to deepen its expertise, broaden its offering, and expand its geographical footprint.

This next phase will be led by Boris Symchowicz, appointed Chief Executive Officer of Celeres after 22 years with Alstom. He will be supported by Marta Escudero, who has shaped the company’s space business for more than 30 years and will work alongside him as Deputy Chief Executive Officer, ensuring continuity across operations, expertise, and client relationships.

Jean-François Beaudoin, Partner, and Kamil Tazi, Director at Latour Capital, said: “We were impressed by the quality of Celeres’ teams, the depth of their expertise in critical systems, and the trusted relationships they have built over several decades with leading institutional and industrial clients.” They added, “This transaction is fully aligned with Latour Capital’s DNA: supporting the carve-out of strategic industrial businesses, preserving their heritage and expertise while giving them the autonomy and resources they need to enter the next phase of their development. We are delighted to begin this new chapter alongside the Celeres teams, with Boris’ arrival bringing fresh leadership and momentum.”

Ángel Ramírez, Co-Founder of GTD, said: “This transaction marks an important milestone in GTD’s history, and Latour was the natural choice. From our very first discussions, its teams understood the distinctive nature of our businesses, the value of our expertise, and the importance of preserving the company’s entrepreneurial heritage. Its approach combines the best of both worlds: substantial financial and strategic resources to accelerate Celeres’ development, alongside a strong entrepreneurial and operational culture.”

Mr. Symchowicz added, “Building on nearly 40 years of technological expertise in critical systems, we have a clear ambition: to strengthen our positions in our core businesses while broadening our capabilities and expanding into new markets, through both organic growth and targeted acquisitions. This ambition will be driven by the commitment of our employees, with one constant priority: staying close to our clients and putting our expertise to work on their most critical challenges.”

Houlihan Lokey acted as the financial advisor to Latour Capital.

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