The Paris Commercial Court announced today that it has accepted the takeover bid presented by Avril in association with the SPI (Sociétés de Projets Industriels) investment fund, which is managed by Bpifrance on behalf of the French state, as part of the France 2030 program. This project, undertaken with the support of the Hauts-de-France Region and the Amiens metropolitan area, will safeguard 315 jobs by taking over the operations of Metex Novistagoo (Amiens and Paris), as well as a portion of Metex's R&D activities in Saint-Beauzire. The takeover will come into effect on Tuesday 16 July 2024.
In alignment with our collective ambition, this project will help preserve our national industrial fabric, and keep this production active in Europe – as relaunching lysine production and the development of other amino acids are essential to the sovereignty of the French and European animal production sectors. This project is therefore fully consistent with Avril's commitment to the public interest, its long-term vision and our deep-rooted connection to local regions
Building on the skills and expertise of the 315 employees who will be joining the Avril workforce as of 16 July, and reinforced by the company's own expertise, Avril will be implementing a strategic plan to restructure this business line, in order to guarantee its long-term success and ensure new prospects for development.
This project, bringing fresh ambition, is based on four priorities:
- Refocusing operations on fermented amino acids for use in animal production
- Optimizing the production of essential amino acids, then reinforcing the production of specialty amino acids
- Developing an aggressive investment policy for industrial equipment and facilities
- Streamlining the procurement of raw materials and market commodities
Jean-Philippe Puig, CEO of Avril, stated: "I'm delighted with this decision, which marks a new step in Avril's development. On behalf of all our staff, I'd like to welcome the 315 new employees who'll be joining us. I'm proud and happy with the project we put together to secure a new future for these enterprises. Now we can get to work developing a solid and long-term economic model, and offering a range of products that will help boost both the competitiveness of the livestock sector and its environmental transition. I'd like to thank our partner, Bpifrance, for their confidence, along with the national and local institutional stakeholders involved, notably the CIRI (inter-ministerial committee for industrial restructuring), the Hauts-de-France region and the Amiens metropolitan area who mobilized to support us, as well as the legal operators involved (court-appointed agents and the Commercial Court). Together, we will succeed in preserving and developing a strategically vital activity for European sovereignty and the future of animal production sectors."