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Doublestar car tyres on-sale in Carrefour Spain
Doublestar Tyres, the new majority shareholder of Kumho, recently announced that its tyres are on-sale alongside premium brands at Carrefour supermarkets in Spain.
According to Doublestar, which compared Carrefour founded in 1959 to Walmart in the USA, the supermarket chain is Europe’s favourite. Having pioneered the so-called hypermarket approach in Europe Carrefour has developed into the largest retailer in Europe and the second largest international retail chain group in the world, with business scope covering more than 40 countries and regions. Carrefour owns 17 large chain stores in Spain, which covers the Iberian area and radiates to the whole pan-European region. With an annual population of 400 million, Carrefour is a perfect channel for product sales and a perfect platform for brand exposure.
Michelin honours 5 partners at Supplier Awards
Five of Michelin’s best suppliers were recognised at the fourth edition of the tyre maker’s Supplier Awards, which was held yesterday at ‘Aventure Michelin’ in Clermont-Ferrand, France. The awards were presented to representatives of the winning companies by Jean-Dominique Senard, chief executive officer and managing general partner of the Michelin Group, and four members of the Group Executive Committee.
Bekaert closing Figline-Valdarno factory
Bekaert Group is closing its rubber reinforcement entity in Figline e Incisa Valdarno, Italy and cease all activities there.
Bekaert and ArcelorMittal close Sumaré deal
Bekaert and ArcelorMittal have integrated Bekaert’s formerly wholly-owned steel cord subsidiary in Sumaré (Brazil) into the BMB (Belgo Mineira Bekaert Artefatos de Arame Ltda) partnership.
In line with the shareholding structure of the BMB joint venture, ArcelorMittal has become the majority shareholder (55.5%) of the steel cord entity in Sumaré and Bekaert retains the remaining shares (44.5%).
Bekaert acquisition of three Pirelli steelcord plants finalised
The sale of Pirelli’s tyre steelcord activities at three sites was finalised on 18 December. Bekaert is now the official owner of the Figline facility in Italy, the Slatina plant in Romania and the operation in Sumaré, Brazil, however it still awaits local regulatory approvals for the transfer of Pirelli’s steelcord facilities in Izmit, Turkey and Yanzhou, China. It is expected that these approvals could be obtained in the first quarter of 2015, however the companies can give no assurance that this timeframe will be met.
Bekaert-Pirelli steelcord deal expected to close in Q1 2015
Upon releasing its latest financial results, Pirelli provided an update on the deal to sell its steelcord business to Belgium’s NV Bekaert SA. The European Commission approved the transaction at the start of August, and Pirelli reports that it still remains subject to approvals in China and Turkey. The deal is expected to close between the end of 2014 and the first quarter of 2015.
European Commission approves Bekaert acquisition of Pirelli steel cord business
The European Commission has approved the proposed acquisition of the steel tyre cord business of the Italian company Pirelli by its Belgian-based rival NV Bekaert SA under the EU Merger Regulation. According to an official statement dated 31 July, the commission concluded that the acquisition “would not raise competition concerns as the merged entity’s customers, which are large, multinational tyre companies, have countervailing buyer power which is further strengthened by over-capacity in the steel tyre cord market.”
Bekaert enjoys Q1 organic growth, falls victim to currency effects
Steel cord manufacturer Bekaert reports organic sales growth in the first quarter of 2013, however the influence of changing exchange rates ensured this positive trend was more than cancelled out. In the first quarter of 2014, Bekaert achieved consolidated sales of €782 million and combined sales of €990 million, respective decreases of 2.1 per cent and 4.4 per cent compared with the first quarter of 2013. On a constant currency basis, Bekaert’s consolidated revenues increased 4.2 per cent and combined sales rose 4.9 per cent.
Bekaert takes on Pirelli steel cord business for €255 million
Pirelli & C. SpA has signed an agreement with Bekaert to sell 100 per cent of its steel cord activities to the Belgium-based steel wire company for an enterprise value of €255 million. At the same time, the two firms have entered into a long-term agreement for Bekaert to supply Pirelli with tyre cord. The deal is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to close in the second half of the year.
Bekaert wins EIPM Excellence award
The European Institute of Purchasing Management (EIPM) has granted the 2013 EIPM Peter Kraljic Excellence Award for ‘Value Creation – Extended Enterprise’ to steel cord manufacturer Bekaert during the 2013 annual EIPM Purchasing Conference in Geneva, Switzerland.
Bekaert in talks to buy Pirelli steel cord business, says paper
According to an article published in Italian newspaper La Repubblica today, Pirelli intends to divest its ‘Steelcord’ business and has attached a €250 million price tag to it. The publication says Pirelli is now in the final stages of negotiations with Bekaert regarding a potential sale.
Bekaert unveils succession plan
Steek cord supplier Bekaert has revealed details of its succession plans for boths its chairman and CEO. Baron Buysse, chairman of the board of directors of Bekaert, will retire in May 2014 after 14 years in the chair of the company’s board.
Bert De Graeve, CEO of Bekaert since 2006, will become chairman of the board in succession of Baron Buysse as of May 2014.
Bekaert Opens Asia R&D Centre
On April 20 Bekaert open its first research and development centre outside of Belgium. The Asia Research and Development Center in China’s Jiangsu Province is intended to strengthen the company’s “commitment to develop and supply innovative products to Asian customers while enhancing its technological leadership in the region.”
