somnOO strengthens its development alongside Bpifrance

Paris, February 4, 2025 - A key player in leisure and business tourism, somnOO is one of Europe's leading independent owner-operator hotel groups, with more than 60 hotels from 2 to 4 stars and over €100M in sales under management in 2024. Founded in 2014 by Lars Backhaus and Christian Rousseau, the group is led by an experienced team of associate managers. Bpifrance is supporting somnOO via its France Investissement Tourisme 3 fund, to consolidate its development and sustainably accelerate its growth, with the ambition of positioning itself among the top five owner-operators of hotels in Europe in the coming years.

With over 60 hotels under management, representing more than 4,400 rooms from 2 to 4 stars, mainly in France and Germany, somnOO is driven by its dynamic development. Backed by its broad geographical presence and €100 million in sales under management by 2024, somnOO makes several hotel acquisitions each year, as well as management takeovers backed by financial partners, with the ultimate aim of owning 100% of the hotel properties. SomnOO's success is based on its entrepreneurial culture and start-up temperament, underpinned by its values of trust and empowerment of management, freedom of initiative and exploration of new ideas, and operational performance.

Bpifrance's investment strongly complements somnOO's profile as a high-performance, innovative company in the leisure and professional tourism sector, present at the heart of the regions. Thanks to this operation, somnOO aims to transform the European hotel landscape over the long term, and to position itself among the top five owner-operators of hotels in Europe in the years to come.

In addition to the support provided by Crédit Mutuel Equity since 2024, this transaction enables somnOO to realize its plans by :
- Expanding its hotel portfolio through new acquisitions, while continuing to work with its long-standing partners (around 45 hotels under management);
- Consolidating its position, by transforming its minority hotel holdings into majority stakes (20 majority-owned hotels).

The Group's sustainable and responsible growth is at the heart of somnOO's governance and concrete achievements, with particular attention paid to energy savings through a targeted optimization policy, as well as the involvement and commitment of our teams through participative management and value sharing.

Camille SAMARUT, Investment Director at Bpifrance, comments: “We are delighted to be associated with somnOO, which in 10 years has become a key European player in the sector, under the impetus of its remarkable team. Bpifrance will do everything in its power to support the Group in maintaining this momentum”.

Lars BAKCHAUS and Christian ROUSSEAU, founders of SomnOO, say: “Bpifrance's support represents much more than a financial partnership: it is a strategic alliance with an institution that shares our values of commitment, innovation and sustainability. We look forward to exploring new opportunities together to strengthen our position in the European hotel sector”.

Bpifrance finances companies - at every stage of their development - with credit, guarantees and equity capital. Bpifrance supports them in their innovation and international projects. Bpifrance also supports their export activities through a wide range of products. Consulting, university, networking and acceleration programs for startups, SMEs and ETIs are also part of the services offered to entrepreneurs.

Thanks to Bpifrance and its 50 regional offices, entrepreneurs benefit from a single, close and efficient contact to help them meet their challenges.

For more information: www.Bpifrance.fr - https://presse.bpifrance.fr / - Follow us on X (Old Twitter) : @Bpifrance - @BpifrancePresse

Founded in 2014 by Lars Backhaus and Christian Rousseau, somnOO owns and operates a portfolio of over 60 hotels in France and Germany. SomnOO has a long-term European “owner and operator” strategy with full ownership of real estate and operations. Positioning as owner of real estate and operations ensures resilience and alignment of interests.

The somnOO development strategy is built around two cycles designed to generate long-term value and ensure alignment of interests with investors: cycle 1 “operator” minority and cycle 2 “owner-operator” with 100% takeover.