· Biggest independent specialty building solutions company in France with Net Sales of EUR 340m
· Highly regarded brand with leadership in innovation and sustainability
· Double-digit annual growth rates driven by advanced energy-efficient and renovation solutions
· Accelerates Holcim’s growth in Solutions & Products to reach 30% of Group Net Sales by 2025
Holcim has entered an agreement to acquire PRB Group, France’s biggest independent manufacturer of specialty building solutions with 2022 (est.) net sales of EUR 340 million. PRB Group offers a broad range of high performance building solutions, from coatings and insulations to adhesives and flooring systems with advanced energy-efficiency and renovation solutions.
With its leadership in sustainability and eco-design, PRB Group is a leading partner to support France’s new regulation (RE2020) advancing energy-efficiency in buildings. PRB Group’s products and solutions are highly complementary to Holcim’s and expand its reach in the high growth repair & refurbishment market. PRB Group’s broad footprint covers the entire French market with more than 700 people and state-of-the-art facilities, including its Research & Development (R&D) Center, 5 manufacturing sites and 26 warehouses, as well as 1300 distributors.
Jan Jenisch, Holcim CEO: “We are off to a strong start to the new year, on our way to welcoming the PRB Group into the Holcim family. This is another exciting step in the expansion of Solutions & Products, advancing our “Strategy 2025 – Accelerating Green Growth”. I am highly impressed by the outstanding achievements of the Laurent family as well as by the expertise and passion of the entire PRB team. I look forward to warmly welcoming all employees into Holcim and to invest in our next era of growth together, with a continued focus on innovation, sustainability and branding.”
Jean-Jacques Laurent, President of PRB Group: “I am excited that PRB is on its way to joining the Holcim family. As a long-standing and trusted business partner of ours, this is a natural next chapter for us. With both companies sharing the same vision and values, together we can accelerate our growth strategy. Like PRB, Holcim is focused on driving the circular economy and leading the way in sustainable construction. With Holcim’s leadership in this sector, we know that our company will be in good hands to reach its next level of performance.”
Founded in 1975, PRB Group has grown to become France’s largest independent manufacturer of specialty building solutions. Its innovation-driven portfolio ranges from coatings and insulations to adhesives and flooring systems, with a strong position in premium segments, from energy-efficiency to repair and renovation. An established leader in sustainability, PRB Group’s state-of-the-art R&D center is constantly innovating for eco-design and easy-to-use high performance products.
With its “Responsible and Sustainable” line, it offers the industry’s first and only complete range of specialty building solutions with a reduced carbon footprint in France. With the French government allocating EUR 7.5 billion to low-carbon construction in its stimulus plan, the housing renovation market has the potential to grow by 18%, establishing a strong growth platform for PRB.
The acquisition will advance Holcim’s “Strategy 2025 – Accelerating Green Growth” with the goal to expand its Solutions & Products business to 30% of Group Net Sales by 2025, entering the most attractive construction segments, from roofing systems to insulation and renovation. The transaction is in line with Holcim’s commitment to strict financial discipline and is subject to regulatory clearance and works council consultation in France. It is expected to close in the second quarter of 2022.
