Each month, we review the latest M&A deals to gain a better understanding of sector dynamics. Here are those that caught our attention in August in Luxembourg, Belgium and France:
Luxembourg copper foil manufacturer Circuit Foil goes under Chinese flag
Circuit Foil, the Wiltz-based Luxembourg manufacturer of fine copper foils, is to be acquired by the Chinese industrial group Defu Technology for €174 million. The transaction, expected to be finalized in mid-October, comes after a number of difficulties encountered by Circuit Foil in recent years, including a redundancy plan in 2023. The company, until now controlled by the Korean group Solus Advanced Materials, produces copper foils used in electric car batteries and printed circuit boards, and employs over 300 people in Luxembourg.
Luxembourg publishing group LeA strengthens its presence in Belgium with five publishing acquisitions
Groupe LeA, a legal publishing house in Luxembourg and Belgium, has acquired five Belgian publications specializing in tax and corporate law from multimedia group Roularta Media Group. The new titles include Le Fiscologue, Fiscoloog, Le Fiscologue International, Fiscoloog Internationaal and the bilingual Revue pratique des sociétés. These publications extend the LeA Group’s editorial offering to weekly news and join its other titles: Legitech in Luxembourg, Anthemis and LeA Uitgevers in Belgium, as well as the LexNow.io digital platform.
Lizy, Belgian scale-up in used-vehicle leasing, strengthens its capital base
Lizy, a Belgian scale-up based in Ixelles and specializing in the leasing of used cars, particularly electric cars, obtains €75 million in financing to support its growth. Existing shareholders D’Ieteren (a Belgian group active in mobility and automotive distribution) and Alychlo (an investment vehicle owned by entrepreneur Marc Coucke) have contributed €10 million in capital, while the remainder comes from a €65 million loan. Present in Belgium, France and the Netherlands, the company aims to strengthen its position in these markets and extend its model across Europe.
Showpad, the Ghent-based tech nugget, joins the portfolio of an American fund
Showpad, a Belgian company founded in 2011 in Ghent and publisher of sales support software, has been acquired by the American investment fund Vector Capital. The Showpad platform optimizes the efficiency of sales and marketing teams by integrating content, training, interaction and analytics. With annual sales of around €100 million and offices in the USA, Showpad will be merged with Vector Capital’s US portfolio company Bigtincan, a competitor and major player in the sector, to form a combined entity operating under the Showpad brand.
Socomec, French electrical equipment manufacturer, acquires start-up PowerUp
#M&A #Mergers & Acquisitions #Market Trends #Corporate Strategy #Luxembourg #Belgium #France
Sources: Paperjam, Virgule, L’Echo, Les Echos, S&P Capital IQ Pro
