SOCOTEC, a leading global provider of Testing, Inspection, Certification, and Compliance (TICC) services for the building and infrastructure sectors, has announced a significant expansion of its shareholder base. Bpifrance and Mubadala Investment Company have taken minority stakes in the group to support its new strategic cycle, "Ambitions 2028." They join historical shareholders COBEPA, which remains the majority owner, and CD&R, an investor since 2019.

Clayton Dubilier & Rice has signed an agreement to acquire a significant minority stake in Socotec, taking over the positions previously held by Five Arrows and BIP Investment Partners. This transaction occurs alongside the existing majority shareholder, Cobepa, which has controlled the group since 2013. The capital reorganization follows a period of rapid international growth, most notably the recent acquisition of the American firm Vidaris, which allowed the target to establish a major presence in the North American building consultancy market. The deal marks one of the most significant leveraged buyouts of the year in the French market. The strategic entry of the new investor is intended to support the management team in its continued buy,and,build strategy and to provide the permanent capital necessary for further global expansion. The existing debt structure was recently repackaged through a senior loan facility to support the group,s increased scale and recent acquisition activities.

Socotec has finalized the 100% acquisition of ATS and its international subsidiaries in Italy and China from its founding directors. This transaction represents a strategic build-up for Socotec, which has been operating under a secondary LBO backed by Cobepa and Five Arrows Managers for approximately one year. The transaction is driven by the significant reinforcement of Socotec’s technical capabilities in the specialized Oil & Gas quality control market. Beyond enhancing technical synergy, the acquisition provides a critical geographic expansion, granting the group an immediate footprint in Italy and Asia through established subsidiaries in Milan and Shanghai. This allows the group to offer localized technical oversight in major international energy hubs. By integrating the target's specialized workforce and technical expertise, Socotec significantly scales its energy-related service offering, enabling it to better serve global industrial clients. This move aligns with the group’s broader consolidation strategy to lead the risk management and industrial inspection landscape by diversifying its sectoral reach and strengthening its international operational network.

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.