from CHARGEURS (EPA:CRI)
CHARGEURS - Cilander's acquisition finalized
Chargeurs successfully completes the Acquisition of Cilander's strategic assets in Switzerland
CFT PCC confirms its Ambitions in high-end Textiles for Fashion, Military and Mobility Applications
• The acquisition project, announced on May 30, has just been successfully finalized: o The Chargeurs group becomes the owner of strategic assets previously held by the Swiss company Cilander. Now integrated into the Chargeurs PCC Fashion Technologies (CFT PCC) business line, they offer promising growth prospects, opening the doors to new markets and strengthening CFT PCC's global leadership in high-tech, high-quality textiles • These new assets, within the CFT PCC business line, will form the Swiss know-how of the Chargeurs group. They benefit from a reputation for excellence and quality, thus consolidating the Group's image and standards. The acquired assets include: o A set of renowned brands offering top-quality fabrics for high-end shirts o Finishing technologies for technical textiles, complementary to Chargeurs' proprietary technologies, which will enable it to strengthen its positions in fast-growing markets such as military equipment, outdoor and yachting, and mobility-related markets • This targeted acquisition aligns perfectly with Chargeurs' growth strategy, which aims to strengthen the global leadership of its businesses by leveraging in-house developed innovation and expertise, complemented by small, highly targeted acquisitions designed to expand the Group's range of products and services for a broader global customer base • The transaction is part of the preparation for the 2025-2030 strategic plan, which will be finalized and presented during Q1 2025 |
Michaël Fribourg, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Chargeurs, commented: "I am delighted to welcome these new assets and the talents that come with them. They will bring an additional dynamic to our CFT PCC business line and our Group, allowing us to increase our market share across the entire textile value chain. The acquisition of finishing technologies which complement those we already own, along with worldrenowned high-quality fabric brands, provides us with the opportunity to expand our product range and target new markets. This operation is fully aligned with our strategy of acquiring new expertise, to further strengthen the global leadership of our businesses.”
Chargeurs PCC Fashion Technologies has now access to the full range of finishing technologies, giving it a presence in all markets and extending its global leadership
Thanks to the know-how developed at its two French plants, Chargeurs is the world leader in textile surface finishing technologies. These technologies offer excellent performance, particularly on fabrics for the apparel and furnishing industries, and are highly acclaimed by fashion brands for the quality and rendering of the coated fabrics. Today, over 6,000 customers are loyal to the CFT PCC business line's entire product offering.
With Cilander's assets, CFT PCC acquires new finishing technologies, which are particularly well-suited to certain textile applications requiring specific functional properties, notably in the military, sports, and outdoor sectors, where durability and performance are crucial. CFT PCC is thus penetrating new, fast-growing markets, such as military equipment, where budgets are currently on the rise worldwide, and yachting, where the average annual growth rate is 7% over the 2024-2032 period (source: 2023 Global Market Insights). Thus, with the Planofil® brand, included in the strategic assets acquired and renowned in the nautical world for the performance of its protective fabrics, CFT PCC is diversifying its customer portfolio, positioning itself in a brand-new market for the Group.
Chargeurs PCC Fashion Technologies becomes the owner of an industrial tool that benefits from the solid reputation of Swiss know-how
The CFT PCC business line acquires a modern, high-performance production facility at Cilander's historic site in Lützelflüh, in the canton of Bern. Cilander is recognized by its customers as one of Europe's most advanced experts in textile finishing, offering highly technical textile solutions for very specific markets and capable of meeting customized requirements. CFT PCC thus becomes the owner of particularly innovative finishing processes developed by Cilander. These processes enable cotton fabrics to be finished to a “perfect white”, and to produce fabrics with a “plissé” of unrivalled quality, which have become the distinctive hallmark of Cilander and the benchmark for tailors and premium shirt brands looking for this “Made in Switzerland” label, which CFT PCC will continue to promote.
Chargeurs PCC Fashion Technologies also integrates Cilander's portfolio of high-end fabric brands: crossselling opportunities will strengthen the business line's global leadership in the fashion and luxury industries
Cilander has built an internationally renowned brand, ALUMO: for over a century, ALUMO has been at the forefront in offering fabrics made from the highest quality cotton for men's shirts. The brand is the reference among the world's leading tailors and luxury brands. Significant commercial synergies are expected worldwide: the ALUMO brand benefits from a particularly efficient E-commerce platform, which CFT PCC will use to increase the visibility of its entire range of interlinings and textile accessories throughout the luxury ecosystem.
In the world of high-end and luxury women's fashion, the Eugster & Huber brand enjoys an outstanding reputation for its creative innovation. It offers one of the best ranges of fabrics on the market, with unique qualities that are particularly prized by luxury brands. For CFT PCC, this brand represents an excellent opportunity to gain access to new customers and thereby offer its entire range of products and services for women's apparel.
The portfolio includes two additional brands: Brennet, a brand full of potential, targeting a young, comfort- and performance-conscious clientele, which CFT PCC intends to relaunch. At the Milano Unica trade show, Autumn Winter 2024-2025, Chargeurs presented the new Brennet collections, which were very well received by professionals. The more confidential Swiss Ghutra brand specializes in top-of-the-range fabrics and headwear for prestigious Middle Eastern customers.
Combining all this expertise opens up new commercial and industrial opportunities for CFT PCC
CFT PCC benefits from a unique industrial and commercial footprint throughout Asia, the epicenter of the global textile industry. The acquisition of Cilander's assets allows the Group to enhance its range of high value-added products, complete its portfolio of world-renowned brands, and reinforce its industrial excellence. Its creative DNA, already recognized by all premium and luxury fashion brands, combined with its commercial and industrial network, will boost its capacity for innovation in creating new collections, as well as new high value-added services.
2024 Financial Calendar
Thursday, September 5, 2024 (before market opens) First-half 2024 Results
ABOUT CHARGEURS
CHARGEURS is a diversified international holding company, world leader in high value added niche industrial and service markets. Active in nearly 100 countries with around 2,300 employees, the Group relies on the long-term commitment of Groupe
Familial Fribourg, an invested and committed controlling shareholder, and onbusiness segments: Technologies and Luxury. Chargeurs, whose global signature is High Emotion Technology, achieved its portfolio of assets organized into two strategic revenues of €653.2 million in 2023.
The Chargeurs share is listed on Euronext Paris and is PEA-PME eligible.
ISIN Code: FR0000130692, Bloomberg Code: CRI:FP, Reuters Code: CRIP.PA