FORESTIA / FELIX CLERCX

The FORESTIA Group, founded and led by Nicolas Tant, has acquired 100% of Felix Clercx BV in Helmond (Netherlands) and its subsidiary located in Dortmund (Germany), specializing in the import of tropical, heat-treated, and composite wood. Bpifrance and NCI, which acquired a stake in Forestia in May 2019, reaffirmed their support for the group by reinvesting on this occasion, in order to support the financing of this structuring external growth operation for the company. 

FORESTIA designs, manufactures and markets outdoor landscaping solutions in raw wood and composite wood: cladding, decking and fencing as well as installation accessories under its brand but also garden landscaping and decoration products intended for landscapers, such as corten steel or fiberglass planters, lighting, railings. These products are marketed to specialized dealers by Fiberdeck® or directly to end customers (professionals and individuals) via websites (So Garden, Decklinea and Direct-Abris).

Founded 15 years ago, Forestia has experienced strong and steady organic growth and has established itself as a leading player in the French market for outdoor landscaping products. With this new external growth operation, Forestia is pursuing its international development objectives and expanding its high-quality wood offering. The group has thus doubled in size and expects to achieve consolidated revenue of around €50 million in 2019.
Nicolas Tant is also maintaining its growth objectives in France and abroad, focusing its development on innovative products of impeccable quality, in particular its new range of WEO cladding in co-extruded composite wood guaranteed for 20 years without discoloration.

Nicolas Tant, Director of Forestia, says: The acquisition of Felix Clercx will allow us to accelerate our growth in Europe by opening up new markets with strong potential. Felix Clercx is a company with which we have established increasingly close commercial ties in recent years. This important acquisition was able to take place in complete confidence with a strategy shared by its CEO Peter Derckx to build a common future. Felix Clercx shares our values, particularly sustainable development with a high proportion of FSC-certified wood in its range. This company has a very efficient 40 m000 logistics platform and a widespread customer base well distributed across Germany and the Benelux countries.." 

Peter Derckx, Director of Felix Clercx BV, adds: “ In 2012, after taking over as CEO from Jean-Marie Clercx, I was able to develop the company, particularly in the German market, with a quality of service that characterizes us. With no succession within the family after 3 generations, we decided, by mutual agreement with the Clercx family, to look for a buyer during 2018.  
Our good financial ratios have attracted a lot of interest from several Dutch companies, but Forestia® has proven to be the "ideal candidate" for us: the same strategic vision, no customer overlap, and an extremely innovative product range that complements our current offering. Our customers will particularly appreciate the latest developments in co-extruded wood composite cladding. I will continue to guide this great company in the coming years by leveraging synergies with the new owner, Forestia®. We look to the future with even more confidence and will maintain our slogan: "Wood for generations."

Jean-Yves Duriez, Investment Director at Bpifrance Investissement, concludes: " In May 2019, we participated with NCI in the opening of Forestia's capital, in order to support this family business in its rapid development, driven by robust organic growth, generated by new quality, sustainable products that meet consumer expectations. We are pleased today to support it in this new stage of its development, through this structuring external growth operation, which will allow it to double in size and establish itself in new markets, in the Netherlands and Germany. ». 

Speakers 

Financial investors: 

- Bpifrance Investment : Jean-Yves Duriez, investment director, Pierre de Miscault, Vincent Stievenard, interregional director
- NCI : Anne-Cécile Guitton, Associate Director, Anaëlle Meilard

Forestia Legal Advice : 

- Théret Cabinet : Anne-Sophie Leriche, Edouard Théret.
- Pellicaan Lawyers : Juriaan Maccow, Sanne de Graaff, Anita van Nielen

Legal advice Felix Clercx : Eno Schets,  
Financial audit : Mazars Cabinet: Bas van Ouden, Eddy Bertelli, Sylvia van Beukering Legal, fiscal and social audit: Mazars / Pellicaan firm : Juriaan Maccow, Sanne de Graaff
senior debt : Banque Populaire du Nord (Martin Descamps), HSBC, CIC Nord-Ouest, Bpifrance Financement

About FORESTIA
Forestia® is a company specializing in the development of outdoor landscaping products, which it markets via BtoB and BtoC multi-channel distribution through its subsidiaries: Amenabois, So Garden and Fiberdeck.
Originally specializing in solid wood products, the company has developed expertise in high-quality composite woods with more sustainable applications in exterior cladding, as well as a range of innovative accessories to simplify the installation of its products under its own brands. 
Originally a design office, Forestia attaches great importance to the development of high-quality products, for sustainable use and respect for the environment.

About FELIX CLERCX
Felix Clercx, founded in 1891 in Helmond (Netherlands), is a family business that has grown over three generations in the import and distribution of exotic wood and then manufactured products for gardening and construction. Mainly sourced from Indonesia and Africa, the selected woods are more than 3% FSC certified. The introduction of composite wood and thermo-heated wood into its range is recent, with a desire to diversify its supplies. The storage platform extends over 30 m40 with an evolution of the retail preparation service to meet the new expectations of its customers. 

About Bpifrance
Bpifrance's equity investments are made by Bpifrance Investissement. Bpifrance finances French companies—at every stage of their development—with credit, guarantees, and equity. Bpifrance supports them in their innovation and international projects. Bpifrance now also handles their export activities through a wide range of products. Consulting, university, networking, and an acceleration program for startups, SMEs, and mid-cap companies are also part of the offerings for entrepreneurs. 
Thanks to Bpifrance and its 48 regional offices, entrepreneurs benefit from a close, unique and efficient interlocutor to support them in facing their challenges.

About NCI
A major player in private equity, based in Rouen, Paris, and Lille, NCI invests its expertise and equity in projects involving the creation, development, and transfer of minority or majority stakes in regional businesses. With an accelerator and a team of experts, NCI supports entrepreneurs in their value creation projects.
With €220 million under management - entrusted by public and private institutional investors, NCI combines finance and economic development in its region.