On 9 October 2023, the AVK Group acquired 100% interest in the Bayard and Belgicast Groups of companies with businesses in Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, and China.
The acquisition includes the companies: Bayard, Belgicast International, and Talis Flow Control (Shanghai) Co. as well as the sales companies in Italy (Belgicast Italia) and Portugal (Industra – Comercio de Equipamentos Industriais).
Going forward, the business will continue to trade as Bayard and Belgicast and continue to operate out of its head offices and manufacturing sites in Meyzieu near Lyon, France, Mungia and Toledo, Spain and Shanghai, China.
Bayard and Belgicast are strong and well-established brands with a strong portfolio of leading water industry products with significant market positions on hydrants, gate valves, butterfly valves, pressure control and regulation valves and other accessories, primarily for the water industry.
Bayard and Belgicast will remain standalone businesses alongside AVK’s widespread businesses worldwide. The current management teams remain in place, led in Bayard by David Chambon, Renaud Dumoulin, Edouard Sollier and Marie Rives, and in Belgicast by Aitor Bernado and Joan Galtes.
Morten Sæderup Nielsen, Group Director for AVK Water, and new chairman of the companies, commented as follows: “We are excited to welcome the Bayard and Belgicast companies into the AVK family of companies. This is an exciting acquisition with huge potential.”
Morten continues: “The new companies will significantly strengthen our position in several markets and business segments, and will add comprehensive knowledge within our AVK Water sectors and in desalination technology. With a very broad product offering, optimised production facilities and a strong team of motivated people, we look forward to working together to further support our customers and markets with quality products and solutions, securing safety in the infrastructure networks. I know that all companies will benefit from being part of the global AVK organisation, where they will be able to access further support in the key strategic areas of growth, leadership and lean.
I’d like to take this opportunity on behalf of everyone in AVK to welcome the teams of the Bayard and Belgicast Groups and wish them every success.”