Press Release<\/p>\n
Dinard (France), November 26th<\/sup>, 2020<\/p>\n Kersia announces the signing of an exclusive agreement for the acquisition of Sopura, Food and Breweries specialist.<\/strong><\/p>\n The combined company reinforces its position as a global leader in the food safety industry.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n As global leader in food safety, International group Kersia continues to expand in new food end-segments and foreign markets with the acquisition of Sopura, its seventh since 2016. In addition to strategic geographical complementarities notably in Asia-Pacific and Africa, this acquisition will foster Kersia\u2018s presence in the beverage market and improve significantly water treatment expertise to the group.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Business and geographical complementarities: a winning strategy <\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n This transaction is based on the great potential for positive synergies \u00a0between the two groups, both of which have global reach, solid industry experience, and strong geographic coverage. Their complementary nature, particularly in terms of market sectors, will enable the two groups to offer a comprehensive service, unique in the global food and beverage market. Besides being \u00a0a worldwide leader in hygiene for the brewery market, Sopura is also an expert in \u00a0hygiene for specific food industries ; in water treatment and engineering solutions; and operates a dedicated R&D center in Belgium, where innovative concepts and products are created.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This winning combination of geographic expansion of the group and enlargement of end-markets served elevates Kersia to the rank of European leader in the food and beverage industry and asserts its position as a force on the world stage, with a consolidated presence in America, Asia\/Oceania and the Middle East\/Africa. With the Sopura industrial facilities (of which Australia, South Africa, Vietnam) Kersia intends to pursue its strategy of expansion in those markets in 2021.<\/p>\n The Kersia industrial presence in North and Latin America will open new geographies for the expansion of the beverage offerings brought by Sopura.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Kersia: unprecedented growth on the global market<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Kersia has expanded rapidly since 2016. A series of 7 acquisitions have enabled the group to strengthen its technical and industry expertise considerably, while extending its geographic coverage. In under 4 years, Kersia has tripled its size. The arrival of Sopura will give the group commercial, industrial, and social leverage to continue on this ambitious trajectory. Kersia will have a presence in over 120 countries, with a total workforce of 1,800 and a turnover of 375 million euros.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sopura – a world leader in the brewing industry<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n A family business established in 1946 in Courcelles (Belgium), Sopura (about 55 million euro turnover in 2019) has global reach, with a presence in over 100 countries through its 15 subsidiaries and 5 production facilities in Belgium, Spain, Australia, South Africa, and Vietnam. As the reference in the brewing industry for providing total cleaning & sanitation solutions, Sopura distinguishes itself through via the very high level of expertise and knowhow of its people, the quality of its solutions based on more than 70 years of experience in more than 100 countries.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n S\u00e9bastien Bossard, CEO of Kersia <\/u><\/p>\n \u201cWe are very proud to welcome the Sopura team to our journey! Sopura will add Beverage \/ Brewery \u00a0expertise to Kersia core Food Vertical. It will reinforce our external expansion strategy of accelerating our growth while sustainably reinforcing our market position. From tomorrow, 1,800 employees will be working to achieve our mission: \u201cTo create a food safe world\u201d. We are more committed than ever to supporting our clients from farm to fork, all over the world. For Kersia and all of our staff, this represents a weighty responsibility, which we are ready to take on: upholding consistently high standards to help improve food safety on a global scale, and contributing to solve the continues returning food scares, for the universal good. The complementarity between our two companies is strong, as are the common values and DNA we share. I sincerely and warmly thank Monique Coppieters, owner and CEO, for her trust.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Monique Coppieters, CEO of Sopura<\/u><\/p>\n \u00abIn this world of globalisation and consolidation the combination of Kersia and Sopura brings to the global market –big cooperation\u2019s and small local companies — solutions for hygiene and water treatment that are<\/em><\/p>\n assuring food safety and processes that will improve the environmental impact. I am convinced that the group will be able to increase added value created for our client\u2019s, teams and shareholders. <\/em>I am proud that Kersia Group did recognize the potential positive contribution that Sopura will have to its growth and I am fully committed to contribute to a smooth integration between two companies which already have a lot of strong common values<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The transaction remains subject to the approval of the combination control authorities.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n About Kersia:<\/strong><\/p>\n Kersia is a global leader in food safety with value added products and solutions to prevent diseases or contamination in both animals and humans at every stage of the food supply chain.\u00a0The company offers also niche and differentiated solutions to the healthcare sector.<\/p>\n Following the acquisition, Kersia will operate in more than 120 countries with a workforce of over 1,800 people and a turnover of more than \u20ac375 million.<\/p>\n www.kersia-group.com<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n About Sopura <\/strong><\/p>\n Sopura has built an innovative company with a focus\u00a0 on providing sustainable solutions \u2013 including products ,equipment and services\u00a0 to its clients.<\/p>\n Headquartered in Courcelles, Belgium, Sopura has 5 production plants (in Belgium, Spain, Vietnam, South Africa and Australia) and distributes its products through several sales subsidiaries as well as distribution partners in more than 100 countries while realising over \u20ac55 million sales in 2019.<\/p>\n<\/h2>\n