Two months after the liquidation of French appliance manufacturer Brandt, the Nanterre Commercial Court has received 36 takeover bids, according to reports from L’Informé and BFMTV. The offers cover a wide range of the group’s assets, including factories, brands, and an inventory of more than 172,000 household appliances.
Major Retail and Manufacturing Groups Step In
Several well-known players in the home and appliance sector have expressed interest:
– Fnac-Darty has submitted a €2.9 million bid to acquire Brandt’s brands and remaining stock.
– Fournier Group—owner of SoCoo’c, Mobalpa, Hygena, and Perene—has offered €500,000 specifically for the Sauter brand.
– Discount retailer Noz, known for buying liquidation stock (including Habitat’s unsold goods two years ago), has made a €4.5 million offer solely for Brandt’s inventory.
– Polish manufacturer Amica, active in 50 countries with over 300 employees, has proposed €2.5 million to acquire both the Brandt and Sauter brands.
Only Four Bids Include Employee Retention
Out of nearly 40 proposals, just four include plans to retain Brandt employees.
One of the most significant comes from the Île-de-France region and the Cergy-Pontoise municipality, which aim to take over the Saint-Ouen-l’Aumône factory and continue producing household appliances there. Public authorities have pledged €15 million to support the project.
Another bid comes from Stephan Français, head of Metavisio, who proposes keeping 150 employees by expanding the site’s production to include IT hardware—Metavisio notably manufactures Thomson computers. His offer totals €4 million, including €1.75 million for trademarks and patents.
Additional Local Offers
Two smaller proposals have also been submitted:
– The Orléans metropolitan area has offered €300,000 for Brandt’s brands.
– Dishwasher startup EverEver, which manufactures in France, has bid €25,000 for the Vendôme factory.
What Happens Next?
All bids are now under review by the court, Brandt’s administrators, and the Ministry of the Economy, which stated immediately after the liquidation that it would be “closely monitoring the case.”
