Three Hills finalises its investment in Socomore in collaboration with Bpifrance

Three Hills and Bpifrance, the French public investment bank, announce our investment in Socomore, a French-headquartered global leader in high-performance surface treatment solutions for the aerospace industry.

The investment results in the acquisition of a significant minority stake in Socomore, with Three Hills acting as lead investor in a consortium that includes Bpifrance as the main co-investor, alongside Crédit Mutuel Equity and a new investment from Société Générale. The transaction structure includes a combination of preferred and ordinary equity, reflecting Three Hills’ strategy of providing tailored capital solutions that align with long-term value creation. Thanks to Three Hills’ preferred capital investment, the Group composed by Socomore’s Founder and President Frédéric Lescure and the existing management team, retains the majority stake and continues to lead the company. This transaction also marks the exit of RAISE Invest, which had been supporting the group since 2018.

This investment aligns with Three Hills’ strategy of supporting resilient, innovation-driven businesses with strong market positions and international growth potential.  It will enable Socomore to accelerate its international expansion, pursue strategic acquisitions, and deepen its innovation capabilities, as well as to provide liquidity to existing shareholders. The partnership will also support the company’s ambition to further strengthen its position as a trusted supplier to leading aerospace original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) providers globally.

Founded in 1972 and based in Vannes, France, Socomore delivers mission-critical, certified chemical products used in aircraft manufacturing and maintenance. The company operates in a resilient and growing €2.3 billion aerospace surface chemicals market, underpinned by the strong recovery in global aircraft production and the recurring demand for maintenance-related chemical solutions. The market is characterised by long product qualification cycles and strong demand visibility driven by global aircraft delivery pipelines and maintenance cycles.

Socomore’s product portfolio spans surface preparation and treatment, coatings, sealants, and non-destructive testing solutions. With over 80% of its revenues generated from the aerospace sector, the company also serves adjacent high-tech and low-impact industries, such as wind and nuclear energy, automotive, and rail. Its global footprint includes nine industrial sites across Europe and North America, supported by local partnerships in Latin America and Asia.

Pauline Ammeux, Partner at Three Hills, said: “Socomore is well positioned to benefit from a long-term growth in a resilient aerospace chemicals market through its unique offering. It is a rare example of a company that combines deep technical expertise, a global reach, and a strong culture of innovation. We are excited to support the next phase of its growth journey and to partner with a management team that has consistently demonstrated strategic vision and operational excellence.”

Frédéric Lescure, President of Socomore, added: “We are proud of the journey Socomore has taken over the past five decades. Partnering with Three Hills marks a new chapter in our development, one that will allow us to accelerate our international expansion and continue investing in innovation to meet the evolving needs of our customers.”

Alessandro Gonella, Investment Director at Bpifrance, commented: “We are delighted to support Socomore in this new phase of development. The company is a French strategic player in the aerospace value chain, and we believe its innovation capabilities and international footprint will be key to capturing future growth opportunities. We look forward to working alongside Three Hills and the management team to help Socomore scale further.”

Julien Krebs, Investment Director at Société Générale Capital Partenaires: “We are delighted to join forces with Socomore in its growth journey, whose outstanding track record is truly impressive. The strategic choices made by Frédéric Lescure have positioned the group in highly demanding and critical markets, marked by substantial barriers to entry and strong growth potential. The group enjoys significant recognition from clients who are global benchmarks in their sectors, requiring the most advanced technologies. We have been particularly impressed by Socomore’s capacity for innovation, enabling it to anticipate market shifts. We are firmly convinced of the quality of the management team driving the project, which possesses all the necessary attributes to fully realise the group’s growth potential.”

Badri Ben Grine and Gaspard de Longeaux, Head of Capital Transmission and Investment Director at Crédit Mutuel Equity: “Crédit Mutuel Equity has been Socomore’s lead shareholder over the past 14 years and is proud to continue the journey by reinvesting in this new transaction. We are proud to have supported the transformation of this French SME, with €20 million in revenue in 2011, into a global mid-sized company generating €120 million, having completed no fewer than 15 acquisitions across Europe and the United States during this period. We also backed its organic growth strategy, including the creation of two new factories in Elven and Fort Worth, a new R&D centre, and its expansion into sealants. Furthermore, we supported the professionalisation of its governance and the implementation of an ambitious ESG strategy, which will enable the group to build its next roadmap on solid foundations.”

This transaction follows Three Hills’ recent investment in Italy in MECH-I-TRONIC, further reinforcing its commitment to supporting high-tech industrial champions across Europe.