Three Hills, alongside Bpifrance and other investors, has acquired a significant minority stake in Socomore, enhancing its capacity for international growth and innovation in the aerospace surface chemicals market.

Target Information

Three Hills and Bpifrance, the French public investment bank, have announced an investment in Socomore, a leading global provider of high-performance surface treatment solutions specifically for the aerospace sector. This investment involves acquiring a significant minority stake in Socomore, with Three Hills serving as the lead investor in a consortium that includes Bpifrance as the primary co-investor, along with Crédit Mutuel Equity and a new investment from Société Générale.

The transaction is structured with a combination of preferred and ordinary equity, which reflects Three Hills' strategy to deliver tailored capital solutions focused on long-term value creation. Importantly, this arrangement allows Socomore's Founder and President, Frédéric Lescure, along with the existing management team, to retain majority ownership and continue to lead the company. It also signifies the exit of RAISE Invest, which had been a supporter of the company since 2018.

Industry Overview

Founded in 1972 and headquartered in Vannes, France, Socomore operates within the resilient and expanding €2.3 billion global aerospace surface chemicals market. This market is bolstered by a strong recovery in global aircraft production and a persi