BRACHOT TAKES CONTROL OF BELTRAMI
Beltrami and Brachot join forces. Since November 10, 2017, the Beltrami Group, an international wholesaler specializing in natural stone with subsidiaries in Belgium (Harelbeke and Bruges), the United Kingdom and France, has ceded control of the group to Brachot-Hermant. This sale promises to strengthen their position in the natural stone market and accelerate the development for the two companies Beltrami group and Stoneasy.com for Brachot.
Proof that continuity and consolidation in the natural stone and construction sector continue. A Belgian anchor With the sale of the Beltrami group, Brachot-Hermant sets up a powerful Belgian group with a direct presence in Belgium, France, the United Kingdom and Poland. In combination with know-how, product mix and human capital, this transfer will generate many synergies. Complementarity that has advantages in terms of supply, cost structure, customer and supplier files and day-to-day management of the company. The two Beltrami and Brachot-Hermant family holdings are completely family-owned businesses that have been in existence for several decades and are active in the extraction, import, production and distribution of natural stone tiles and slabs. Brachot-Hermant still belongs entirely to the Van Overberghe family. Beltrami, for its part, was founded in 1986 by the Callewier family. The latter is now out of the capital and sells all its shares to Brachot-Hermant.
Former owner Herwig Callewier, however, will continue to serve as Beltrami's General Manager and will be in charge of the integration of the two UK subsidiaries and the group's six French subsidiaries. Bram Callewier, his son, will continue to manage it daily and will be responsible for the development of the Stoneasy.com Internet division. Father and son will also join Brachot's board of directors to ensure continuity with customers, staff and suppliers. The sale of Beltrami Group allows Brachot-Hermant to create a vertically integrated company, with consolidated annual turnover of 140 million euros and 550 employees. Complementary brands The Beltrami, Stoneasy.com and Brachot brand names will be kept on the market because, in addition to complementing each other, they will be strengthened over time, both geographically and in terms of products. In the short term, particular attention will be paid to the integration and broadening of the offer in order to propose in 2018 a uniform, clear and rich range on the market. Consolidation in the sector The sale is part of Beltrami's family monitoring. Herwig Callewier, General Manager: "For some time, consolidation has been going on in the natural stone sector, both for suppliers and customers. As a wholesaler, we need to ride this trend and adapt. Margins are dwindling and economies of scale are needed. With this transfer, the two players join forces in terms of expertise, supply and geographic deployment, while aspiring to joint progress and new opportunities. Dirk Van Overberghe, managing director of Brachot-Hermant: "We intend to continue developing Beltrami and Stoneasy.com's successful formula. Beltrami has a good market position, competent and motivated employees, a large customer base and reliable suppliers. With the new management, the group will seize the opportunities to further deploy Beltrami, Stoneasy.com and Brachot brands in the European market. "
Degroof Petercam attended Brachot-Hermant, in the acquisition of the Beltrami group.
The corporate finance team of Degroof Petercam advised Brachot-Hermant in the structuring, negotiation and execution of the transaction. This is the third time that Degroof Petercam has assisted the Brachot Group in making an acquisition, after advising the group on two buybacks in 2013.
