Elis Expands Via Acquisitions in Colombia, Germany

Elis, an international company providing textile, hygiene and facility services solutions across Europe and Latin America, recently announced acquisitions of laundries in each of its key international markets.

Specifically, Elis, based in St. Cloud, France, recently confirmed that it’s acquiring 100% ownership of Metropolitana S.A.S. in Colombia. The closing, subject to customary legal/regulatory conditions, is expected to occur in coming weeks. Metropolitana operates two plants in Bogota. The family-owned business earned revenues of 4 million euros ($4.56 million) in 2017. The acquisition broadens Elis’ reach in Colombia’s capital city, and it will facilitate an expansion of the company’s hospitality and industrial segments there.

“The acquisition of Metropolitana represents a further step in the creation of a major player in the Colombian market,” said Elis CEO Xavier Martiré. “Metropolitana enables Elis to extend its existing network in healthcare and will bring new opportunities in hospitality and industry, in which there is little outsourcing in the country. This acquisition illustrates our growth strategy and will contribute to the continuation of Elis’ profitable growth.” Click here for details.

As for the company’s other recent merger that was unveiled last month, Elis announced the acquisition of 100% ownership of Curantex GmbH and Curantex GmbH & Co. KG in Germany. The closing of the transaction, subject to customary regulatory conditions, is expected shortly, according to a news release.

The Curantex plant, located in Erkelenz, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, serves clients in the healthcare segment: hospitals and nursing homes (flat linen, workwear and residents’ clothes). Curantex is a family business that generated revenues of 14 million euros ($16 million) in 2017. The acquisition, which further expands the Elis network in the area of Cologne, will facilitate the optimization of the existing plants located in the Western Germany, where population density is very high. Elis already operates five plants in the area that are dedicated to flat linen and workwear.

Martiré said of this Franco-German pairing that, “The acquisition of Curantex enables Elis to extend its network in the very dynamic region of North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. It enables Elis to continue consolidating the healthcare market with a high-quality asset and an attractive portfolio of clients. The rapid integration of this family company, with a family member remaining as co-general manager, will contribute to the continuation of Elis’ profitable growth.”