Van Leeuwen Pipe and Tube Group Acquires Jean Wauters and IPM

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Jan 10, 2012, 03:00 ET

ZWIJNDRECHT, The Netherlands, January 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Van Leeuwen adds bar steel to its product range

The Van Leeuwen Pipe and Tube Group has acquired Jean Wauters-acier speciaux S.A. and its subsidiary, I.P.M. Acier S.A.S. Jean Wauters, based in Brussels, is a leading supplier of bar steel for a variety of industrial sectors in Belgium. The French subsidiary, I.P.M., has branches in Lyon and Paris and concentrates on the French market.

Jean Wauters, a family firm that was founded in 1924, leads the field in the distribution of bar steel in Belgium. From stocks of more than 20,000 tons, Jean Wauters supplies a wide range, most of it cut to order. A major feature of the company is its strong service-orientation and short delivery times. The French subsidiary, I.P.M., serves French customers from two bases. The annual turnover of the company as a whole is more than €50 million, and it employs around 90 people in total.

Van Leeuwen's strategy is aimed at further expanding and strengthening its market positions in various industrial segments through acquisitions and autonomous growth. With the takeover of Jean Wauters and I.P.M., Van Leeuwen is adding bar steel to its range, thereby widening the choices available to customers in the metal-processing and metal-cutting industries.

Peter Rietberg, Chairman of the Board of the Van Leeuwen Pipe and Tube Group, says:

"Jean Wauters and Van Leeuwen are both family businesses in which customized service provision and worldwide distribution to customers in various industrial segments have been key features for many years. The addition of Jean Wauters and I.P.M. to the Van Leeuwen Pipe and Tube Group European network will enable us to further implement our strategy for growth and expand our range for different market segments. We will be focusing on the entire European engineering industry and hydraulics market. The strong combination of Van Leeuwen's distribution network and Jean Wauters' specialism in the field of bar steel will offer fantastic benefits for our customers."

Van Leeuwen Pipe and Tube Group

The Van Leeuwen Pipe and Tube Group is an international trading company specializing in steel pipes, pipe components and valves. The company is active in virtually all industrial sectors. The company was founded in 1924. The Group has more than forty branches spread throughout Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, and North America.

http://www.vanleeuwen.com

SOURCE Van Leeuwen Pipe and Tube Group