Two French investment companies, Fimalac and Latour Capital, have acquired a 58% stake in Systra, a Paris-based engineer that specialises in the transport sector.

Systra commented that the deal would allow it to increase its geographical coverage beyond the 80 countries is presently works in.

Jean-François Beaudoin, senior partner at Latour Capital and new chair of Systra’s supervisory board, said the company operated in “an extremely buoyant market” and offered “unique and sought-after expertise”. He said: “We have every confidence in its growth potential.”

Beaudoin has set a target of achieving a turnover of €2bn by 2030, compared with 902m in 2022.

Systra also announced that Pierre Verzat would leave his role as chief executive, to be replaced by Jean-Charles Vollery, who has been at the group for 28 years, most recently as chief operating officer.

As well as the two new shareholders, Systra is owned by rail operators RATP and SNCF, each of which retains a 20% interest. The remaining 2% is held by the company’s employees.

Laurent Trévisani, SNCF’s deputy chief executive for strategy and finance, said: “At SNCF Group, we are proud of our role in co-founding a world-class company capable of promoting French railway engineering excellence globally. That was 65 years ago.

“Since 2011, under Pierre Verzat’s leadership, Systra has made a name for itself in the world arena, and we will continue to lend our active support to its growth trajectory.”