Avril Group takes over Metex Nøøvistago, ensuring European lysine production

Last week, the Paris Commercial Court accepted the takeover bid presented by Avril, in association with the Sociétés de Projets Industriels (SPI) investment fund, which is managed by Bpifrance on behalf of the French state.

The bid for Metex Nøøvistago​​ came about after the lysine producer was threatened with receivership​​, facing challenges amidst tough competition from Chinese lysine producers.

Supported by the Hauts-de-France Region and the Amiens metropolitan area, this acquisition will safeguard 315 jobs.

The newly created company from this takeover, Eurolysine, will be jointly held by Avril (55%) and the SPI fund (45%).

Avril, the fifth largest agri-food group in France, plans to implement a strategic plan to restructure this business line, ensuring its long-term success and new development prospects. Notably, Metex’s Amiens site is the only European facility producing lysine.

Avril CEO Jean-Philippe Puig remarked that relaunching lysine production and developing other amino acids are essential objectives for the autonomy of the French and European animal production sectors.

Governing structure  ​

Eurolysine is currently managed by Rudolph Hidalgo, who reports to a strategic committee presided over by Puig and comprising representatives of the two stockholders and independent administrators.

Having overseen the restructuring of the Metex group's activities since November 2023, Hidalgo will ensure a smooth transition of the busines until September 15, when he will be replaced by Eddy Feijen, the current managing director of Oleon, an Avril business unit.