French Avril Group has taken over the operations of Metex Nøøvistago (Amiens and Paris), as well as a portion of Metex's R&D activities in Saint-Beauzire. The Paris Commercial Court 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.
EUROLYSINE will be the new company that will unify the activities taken over from the Metex group. The new name was chosen to revive the activity's international reputation and leadership in the fermented amino acids market. The company will be jointly held by Avril (55%) and the SPI fund (45%).
Eurolysine SAS is currently managed by Rudolph Hidalgo, reporting to a Strategic Committee presided over by Avril CEO Jean-Philippe Puig, and made up of representatives of the two stockholders and independent administrators. Rudolph Hidalgo has been in charge of the restructuring of the Metex group's activities since November 2023, and his continued involvement will guarantee a smooth transition.
Starting on September 15, he will be replaced by Eddy Feijen, who is currently the managing director at Oleon, an Avril business unit. Feijen's international experience, managerial qualities and accomplished expertise in industrial sectors and markets have left the partners in no doubt as to his ability to succeed in this challenge.
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. The project will refocus operations on fermented amino acids for use in animal production, optimize the production of essential amino acids, then reinforce the production of specialty amino acids; develop an aggressive investment policy for industrial equipment and facilities, and streamline the procurement of raw materials and market commodities.
“The acquisition 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,” the group said.
Jean-Philippe Puig, CEO of Avril, stated: "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."
