Van Merksteijn, Badische Stahlwerke to merge
The Netherland’s Van Merksteijn and Germany’s Badische Stahlwerke, part of Südwest Beteiligungen (SWB), plan to merge their reinforcing steel businesses in 2025, the companies have informed customers in a joint letter seen by Kallanish.
The proposed merger is currently under review by competition and market authorities. As soon as Van Merksteijn and SWB receive approval, the parties intend to establish a joint holding company in spring – Reinforcing Steel Europe B.V – headquartered in Almelo, the Netherlands.
“In recent years, the reinforcing steel sector has faced numerous challenges: the Covid-19 pandemic, changing environmental legislation, limited availability of raw materials and unpredictable energy prices,” the companies note. “However, challenges also offer new opportunities and we have taken advantage of these to position our company even better for the future. The planned merger will strengthen our position as a major producer and processor of reinforcing steel in the EU.”
The firms’ geographically diversified presence will allow them to be even closer to customers across Europe, they add.
“For Van Merksteijn, it means that we will be assured of sustainably produced wire rod for our processing plants,” the message says. “In turn, Südwest Beteiligungen will be able to better exploit the capacity of their steel mills in Kehl and Trier. We are convinced that this proposed merger will lay the foundation for a strong and lasting partnership, and we confidently look forward to a successful future together.”
Van Merksteijn is a major wire rod processor in the reinforcing steel sector in Europe. The group has three additional production sites in Belgium (Intersig) and France (Intersig France and VMI Atlantic). The family-owned company, with about 725 employees, generated a turnover of €620 million ($638.5m) in 2023.
Südwest Beteiligungen GmbH produces, processes and distributes reinforcing steel and reinforcement products for the construction industry in Europe. With around 1,800 employees, it generated sales of around €1.2 billion in 2023. It includes Badische Stahlwerke (BSW) in Kehl and Moselstahlwerk (MSW) in Trier. BSW is one of the most modern electrical steel plants in Germany.
Svetoslav Abrossimov Bulgaria
