After a first acquisition completed in 2021, the Maine et Loire haulier is strengthening its presence in the Vendée region. It has just acquired the Bernard Michel Transports branch in Sables-d’Olonne. Let’s take a closer look at this transaction with the help of the experts at AURIS Finance, a consultancy specialising in mergers and acquisitions.
Through its subsidiary Brangeon Transports et Logistique, the group has taken over the Bernard Michel Transports branch in Les Sables-d’Olonne. The 16 Bernard Michel employees were welcomed by Brangeon Transports et Logistique teams on 1 March. They are thus leaving the Sabenis group, which employs 80 people in the Vendée and Deux-Sèvres regions, to become part of Brangeon. “By entrusting this branch to Brangeon, I’m securing jobs and strengthening the services we offer our customers. We’ve worked together for a long time and our teams know each other well. I am confident and reassured about the future of my employees and customers,” said Sébastien Nivelle, Chairman of Bernard Michel Transports, at the time of the sale. With the sale of this branch, Sabenis now has 64 employees.
145 employees in the Vendée region
The acquisition brings additional capacity to the Brangeon group. Bernard Michel Transports offers bulk transport services with a vehicle fleet with moving floors and cereal tippers, as well as transport services for public works and packaged products. The branch specifically targets industrial clients in western France. Brangean Transports et Logistiques now employs 145 people at its three branches in the Vendée, in Les Herbiers, Bellevigny and Aubigny-les-Clouzeaux. In total, the Brangean group has 21 branches from Le Havre to Bordeaux, with 540 employees and a fleet of 400 vehicles. The acquisition of Bernard Michel Transports will enable the group to renew its fleet of 15 heavy goods vehicles.
Territorial coverage
This combined organisation will enable the Brangeon group to step up its presence in the Vendée region. The group already acquired Métaux Fers Valoris in 2021. This acquisition was made through the subsidiary Brangeon Recyclages, which specialises in the overall management of waste from economic activities. This second acquisition expands the Brangeon group’s presence in the region through a comprehensive offering.
New constraints
The road transport sector is in a state of flux, having to adapt to changes in regulation, climate and technology. Against this backdrop, mergers between industry players are intensifying. Smaller hauliers are merging with larger ones to achieve the scale needed to make structural changes. In France, transport operator Jacky Perrenot has already made around fifty acquisitions in the space of ten years. The group, which now has 120 branches in France, has committed itself to a responsible approach by making its fleet greener. Today, 18% of the fleet is made up of alternative energy vehicles, and 168 new electric HGVs are due to be added in the near future.
Our experts at your side
Following the example of the Bernard Michel branch in Les Sables-d’Olonne, small businesses are now being targeted by road haulage companies wishing to take over well-established local businesses. Within the AURIS Finance group, our experts are specialised by sector. They will be at your side throughout the entire process of acquisition and sale.
