SOCOTEC acquired by COBEPA

Cobepa and Five Arrows Managers have successfully completed a secondary LBO to acquire the majority stake in Socotec from Qualium Investissement. This transaction represents a strategic transition for the organization, marked by the early exit of the previous shareholder through a private, bilateral negotiation. The management team remains significantly involved, ensuring continuity in leadership and operational strategy during this new phase of development. This deal capitalizes on the continued internationalization and market consolidation of the Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC) landscape. Over the previous four years, the entity significantly broadened its international scope and technical depth, notably entering the oil and gas exploration and production markets through targeted acquisitions. The new partnership with a long-term investment holding provides the group with the strategic stability and dedicated financial resources required to accelerate its buy-and-build program. Specifically, the group aims to capitalize on its position as a market leader to further professionalize its service delivery and expand its reach across high-growth geographies and technical adjacencies, supporting global trends in infrastructure safety and energy transition.

It is worth noting that the fund Qualium took control of Socotec through an LBO in 2008.