AIRESS acquired by INITIATIVE & FINANCE
Context
Initiative & Finance, through its midmarket "tomorrow" fund, has completed the acquisition of a majority stake in Airess, a prominent French specialist in fire safety systems. The transaction was highly preemptive, with Initiative & Finance submitting a decisive offer just three weeks into the sale process, which was managed by Edmond de Rothschild, securing the asset ahead of other interested financial sponsors. The seller, private equity firm Trajan, exited its investment after a successful and rapid two-year holding period during which its strategic objectives for the company were fully achieved, including significant operational structuring through the implementation of a new ERP system and the recruitment of a CFO. The rationale for the acquisition is rooted in Initiative & Finance's long-standing interest in the fire protection sector, which is characterized by strong fundamentals driven by non-discretionary demand from regulatory and insurance requirements. The new partnership will support Airess's next phase of growth. The strategy involves continued organic expansion within France by opening new agencies, complemented by an active buy-and-build strategy to accelerate growth through acquisitions in Southern Europe. The deal was structured as a leveraged buyout, with the company's senior management reinvesting significantly to retain a 25% stake.
AIRESS, which reported an EBITDA margin of in 2025, is valued in this transaction at an EV/EBITDA multiple of , representing a to the average currently observed in the Business Services sector (11.4x).
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Target
Airess is a French specialist in fire safety solutions, focusing on the design, installation, and maintenance of automatic water-based fire extinguishing systems, commonly known as sprinklers. The company serves a diverse client base across various sectors, including industrial sites, large-scale logistics platforms, and public establishments where safety regulations are stringent. Its services are critical for clients not only to comply with legal and regulatory requirements but also to mitigate risks and potentially lower their building insurance premiums. With a comprehensive network of approximately ten agencies spread throughout France, Airess ensures national coverage and proximity to its customers for both new projects and ongoing service needs. The company's operations are supported by a dedicated team of over 200 employees who handle the entire project lifecycle, from initial engineering and conception to installation and long-term maintenance contracts, ensuring the reliability and effectiveness of the safety systems. In 2023, the company generated substantial operational activity. The business model is built on both one-off installation projects and recurring revenue streams from maintenance services, providing a stable and predictable financial profile. The company is led by a management team including a President, Arthur Klein, and a General Manager, Amar Benbraham.
Ent. Value
Equity Value
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EV / Revenue
EV / EBITDA
EV / EBIT
Historical Financials (EUR)
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REFERENCES
Valuation range: EV 20M - 50M EUR
Revenue range: 50M - 100M EUR
EBITDA range: 0M - 5M EUR
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Authors: This transaction was contributed by a verified mynth contributor and cross-checked against available transaction documents and official company communications.
Target: airess
Acquirer: initiative & finance