PARIS/LONDON (March 24, 2017) – McDermott Will & Emery represented French-based Holding Socotec SAS and its shareholders, Cobepa and Five Arrows, in Socotec’s in its move into the UK market and its acquisition of Environmental Scientifics Group from 3i Group plc and funds managed by 3i. The move is part of Socotec’s international expansion.

Holding Socotec SAS is a French certification and inspection group majority owned by Cobepa, a Belgian investment company, and Five Arrows Principal Investments, the corporate private equity business of Rothschild Merchant Banking.

Environmental Scientifics Group is a UK-based provider of testing, inspection and compliance services focused on infrastructure, built environment and energy and waste.

The McDermott team was led by Transactions partners Grégoire Andrieux and Eleanor West and included partners Pierre-Arnoux Mayoly, Antoine Vergnat, James Ross and Paul McGrath.