Infracapital enters into a put option agreement to acquire SAF Aerogroup, a leading European operator of mission-critical aerial services

The investment will enable SAF’s growth ambitions to enhance its current core service offering of medical aerial emergency and firefighting services in France and further expand its current geographic reach across Europe, supporting public and private organisations. Infracapital will support SAF in addressing evolving healthcare needs driven by demographic changes and in mitigating the growing threat of extreme weather events due to climate change.

Founded in 1979, SAF (headquartered in Albertville, France) has a long dated and outstanding track record in providing a full range of highly specialised mission-critical aviation services for emergency medical transport, search and rescue operations, and firefighting with its fleet of 90 aircraft, 30 operating bases, 10 training bases and 550 employees of which 300 pilots performing over 25,000 missions per year.

Through its long-term contracts with public entities, SAF aerial emergency services complement and supplement medical teams by providing transport of patients, doctors and medical equipment in hard-to-reach areas and from accident scenes to centralised healthcare facilities.

SAF, as the largest private player active in the supply of aerial firefighting services in France, performs an increasingly important role in effectively monitoring, combatting and containing fire outbreaks in remote regions in France and other Mediterranean countries (i.e. Greece and Turkey) where it also operates.

The acquisition will be made by Infracapital Partners IV and aligns with Infracapital’s strategy to invest in essential infrastructure to meet the changing needs of society and support long-term economic growth across Europe.

The completion of the acquisition remains subject to the consultation of the relevant employee representative bodies of SAF and the approval from the customary regulatory bodies.

Herman Deetman, Managing Director at Infracapital, said: “We are pleased to partner with Vesper to acquire SAF, a business providing highly essential services through complex operations and with robust long-term fundamentals and growth potential. We are highly impressed with the company and its management team and look forward to supporting SAF to realise its strategic plans.”

Thibault Nicodeme and Jean-Louis Camus, SAF Aerogroup Co-CEOs said “We are excited to welcome Infracapital and Vesper Infrastructure Partners, two like-minded investors, who share the same vision of high quality provision of aerial emergency services, complementing and supplementing the missions of our customers. The long standing track record of our team, in safeguarding lives, protecting population and the environment, coupled with the industrial and financial expertise from our new investors and partners will open up new horizons for the continued successful development of SAF and a rewarding future for our employees.”

Media enquiries

For further information, please contact:

Infracapital via Teneo

Tom Murray

Colette Cahill

E: Infracapital@teneo.com

T: +44 20 7260 2700

About Infracapital

Infracapital invests in, builds and manages a diverse range of essential infrastructure to meet the changing needs of society and support long-term economic growth. We take an active role in all of our investments, whether nascent or large, to fulfil their potential and ensure they are adaptable and resilient. Our approach creates value for our investors, as we target investments with the scope for stable and sustainable growth. Our portfolio companies work closely with the communities where they are based, to the benefit of all stakeholders. Infracapital is well positioned to deliver the significant investment required to help build the future. The founder-led team of experienced specialists has worked with more than 60 companies around Europe and has raised and managed over €9 billion of client capital across seven funds.  Infracapital is part of M&G Plc, an international savings and investments business, managing money for around 4.5 million retail customers and more than 900 institutional clients in 39 offices worldwide. Total assets under management are £345.9 billion (as at 31 December 2024).
www.infracapital.co.uk