BTE Group acquires Hercules Beton

Staff remains employed, name and place of business unchanged

The BTE Group is acquiring Hercules Beton B.V., a company based in Tienray, northern Limburg. Agreement on the acquisition was reached on Feb. 10. With the acquisition of the specialist in precast concrete for residential and commercial construction, BTE is strengthening its position in this market. The acquisition will not affect the workforce.

Hercules Concrete is part of the Zeus Group in Hardenberg. The concrete company was already known to BTE; Hercules' factory is located next to BTE company Kemper Beton. Hercules is engaged in the production and trade of precast concrete elements. In addition to project-related custom elements in various colors, Hercules has an extensive program of standard elements. Hercules has an excellent reputation and is known for its high quality. It fits well with and enriches the BTE Group's product portfolio.

The BTE Group consists of several precast concrete companies and a concrete technology center, each with its own specialties. All companies operate independently in the market and produce at their own sites. Thanks to its broad product range, BTE is active in 95% of all construction sectors. The concrete company has an annual turnover of 180 million euros in the Netherlands and Germany.

Zeus Group

Hercules Concrete is a well-performing company, particularly active in precast concrete for residential and commercial construction. This market is characterized by more and more large-scale investments. The Zeus Group has therefore chosen to sell to a large strategic party such as BTE that offers continuity for the workforce. The Zeus Group operates in the trade and production of precast concrete in the fields of infrastructure, rail construction, stable and greenhouse construction. In the coming years, the company will focus particularly on these growth markets. Characteristic of the company are its sustainable product innovations and the extensive use of people distant from the labor market.

Potential

''Hercules is an excellent addition to our current activities,'' said BTE Group general manager Bart van Melick. ''It fits well within our company, matches our vision and offers additional opportunities for the group to further specialize. Last but not least, it has potential. The demand for housing is high and with Hercules' capabilities we can meet the market need even better. We are proud to add the concrete company in the south to our group''.

Henk Schaap, business unit director of the BTE Group and soon to be responsible for Hercules, is also enthusiastic about the takeover: ''Hercules is a tightly and purposefully organized company with a motivated team of people who offer a nice assortment for the construction industry. The package fits well with the other parts of my business unit, which also includes Vebo Beton & Staal, Steenhuis Beton and Nehobo. An excellent opportunity to provide an even higher service in the total chain of residential and non-residential construction with this group of BTE companies.''

Little will change for the market at the Tienray-based company. Van Melick: ''Hercules will continue to offer the same service and quality to the market, just like BTE's other brands. Slowly, however, synergies will develop mainly internally, such as in the areas of concrete technology, sustainability, finance, human resources and innovation.''