PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release
AIRMEDIC REMAINS UNDER QUEBEC OWNERSHIP
LÉVIS, November 13, 2023– Dessercom has completed the acquisition of Airmedic, a leader in emergency air medical transport, keeping the company under Quebec ownership. This $54 million transaction will ensure the company’s long-term viability and continued growth.
This Airmedic transaction was made possible with the financial support of Mouvement Desjardins and Investissement Québec.
Anywhere in Quebec, anytime
Airmedic is the only private company to offer a safe airborne medical assistance and transport service tailored to any emergency situation. Since 2012, the Airmedic crew has completed more than 8,400 missions across Quebec.
Healthcare network organizations, businesses such as mining and forestry companies, as well as individuals in remote areas, especially indigenous communities, will continue to benefit from the expertise of the 150 employees and management team of Airmedic who remain in place. The company will continue to operate as a stand-alone entity from Saint-Hubert, Québec.
Quotes
“It is more than 10 years of experience in medical assistance services, air transport, and unique expertise in emergency medical evacuations by plane or helicopter that we welcome today into the large Dessercom team. This acquisition aligns directly with our mission to improve healthcare in Quebec, as well as with our goal of diversifying our services.”
– Maxime Laviolette, President and CEO of Dessercom.
“We are pleased to look towards the future with a partner who has been involved in emergency pre-hospital services for 40 years and shares our values of excellence and benevolence. Dessercom will bring stability, both to our operations and our employees, and will guide the direction to deepen and develop several projects that are dear to us.”
– Sophie Larochelle, Airmedic CEO.
“The acquisition of Airmedic by Dessercom, a well-established Quebec company, will ensure the continuity of emergency medical transport activities, an essential service, particularly for remote populations. We are thus preserving the expertise developed by a seasoned team over the years.”
– Pierre Fitzgibbon, Minister of the Economy, Innovation and Energy, Minister responsible for Regional Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Greater Montreal Area.
“Desjardins’ financial support and Capital régional et coopératif Desjardins’ investment in this transaction ensures the continuity of an essential service in all communities and regions of Quebec. All Quebecers have the right to adequate healthcare services, regardless of where they live. Dessercom has been able to count on the support of Desjardins for over 30 years, and we are proud to be at their side in this new phase.”
– Jean-Yves Bourgeois, Executive Vice-President, Business Services, Desjardins Group.
About Dessercom
Dessercom, a charitable organization founded in 1968, has been providing pre-hospital emergency services since 1984, and non-emergency medical transportation since 1995. With a team of over 1,000 professionals in 14 administrative regions of Quebec, it is the largest company in Canada in this field. A major philanthropic player in Quebec, Dessercom has donated over $55 million to various health organizations and foundations since its founding. Committed to serving the population in all its spheres of activity, Dessercom works daily to improve healthcare and the well-being of the communities it serves.
About Airmedic
Airmedic is an innovative Quebec company offering ground and air medical transport and assistance services throughout the province. It is the only company in Quebec to operate its own fleet of airplanes and helicopters dedicated to emergency medical evacuations and inter-hospital transfers. Airmedic was the first private air medical transport company in Canada to obtain Accreditation Canada certification in 2016. Since that same year, it has also been accredited by Transport Canada to wear night vision goggles, and has IFR certification for its helicopter operations. These certifications are an eloquent demonstration of Airmedic’s commitment to offering high-quality care in the safest possible environment at all times.
About Desjardins Group
Desjardins Group is the largest financial cooperative in North America and the fifth largest in the world, with assets of $414.1 billion as at September 30, 2023. It has been named one of the world’s best employers for women by Forbes magazine. To meet the diverse needs of its individual and corporate members and customers, a full range of products and services is offered through its extensive network of points of service, virtual platforms and subsidiaries across Canada. Ranked among the world’s strongest banking institutions by The Banker magazine, Desjardins boasts capital ratios and credit ratings that are among the best in the industry.