Founded in 1979 by Mr Yves TORRES, Groupe FACE ("Façade Acier Couverture Etanchéité") is a leading French player in building envelopes serving private non-residential construction projects. Led by Mr Frédéric TORRES, supported by a seasoned management team that has been with the Group for many years, FACE has expanded through both organic geographical growth and acquisitions, capitalising on its longstanding recognised know-how in covering, sealing and cladding on steel structures.
Bolstered by a widespread geographical footprint throughout France, the Group has diversified since the 2000s into complementary activities such as waterproofing on concrete structures, aluminium joinery, steel frame, services & maintenance, under its FACE Service Expert brand, asbestos removal and photovoltaics. As a result, it offers customers a comprehensive range of services covering all aspects of the building envelope.
Thanks to Groupe FACE strategic positioning and efficient operational structure, revenues have continuously increased for more than 20 years, surpassing €250 million in 2020, in a structurally buoyant market, particularly galvanised by the new environmental, technical and aesthetic challenges faced by the non-residential real estate sector.
Under the guidance of ADVISO PARTNERS, the process implemented to sell a majority stake in Groupe FACE attracted strong interest from both industrial and financial players keen to sustain and accelerate the Group's growth. Following a competitive bidding process, Frédéric TORRES and his family selected Hivest Capital Partners S.A.S. ("Hivest Capital"), a French independent private equity firm, to support the Group as it enters a new development phase alongside key executives and the founding family, who will retain a minority stake.
With HIVEST CAPITAL on board as a shareholder, Groupe FACE will have the resources to accelerate its growth in new activities with the aim to tackle the non-residential construction sector's need for environmental-friendly practices. Such a project will enable the Group to consolidate its leading position in the building envelope sector by expanding its service offering while targeting highly complex projects and prepare for its future growth phase.
Frédéric TORRES, CEO and shareholder of Goupe FACE: "We are convinced that with the support of Hivest Capital's teams, the managers who helped to develop Groupe FACE alongside the TORRES family will be able to sustain its growth and target future growth sectors".
Guillaume CAPELLE, Partner at ADVISO PARTNERS: "We are delighted to have been able to offer support and security to the TORRES family in this transaction, which will enable the Group's managers to continue developing FACE alongside Hivest Capital, to strengthen their position in service and maintenance activities and consolidate their green building expertise."
Axel BONNASSIES, Managing Partner at HIVEST CAPITAL: "We are impressed by the Group that Yves and Frédéric TORRES have built over the years with their teams. FACE is a growing Group that has become a leader in its sector and has an excellent reputation. We are pleased and honoured to partner with Mr Frédéric TORRES and the management team to altogether write this new chapter of the Group's success story".
