New momentum is developing in the investor process for insolvent cable protection specialist Schlemmer (Aschheim / Germany; www.schlemmer.com): competitor Delfingen (Anteuil / France; www.delfingen.com) has announced the start of exclusive talks on the acquisition of Schlemmer’s activities in Europe and North Africa. The transaction could be completed within three months, according to the French company. It would have to finance a potential acquisition through loans.

The takeover would boost Delfingen’s presence in the European market and its proximity to Germany’s car manufacturers. The Schlemmer business units concerned comprise five plants in Germany, Romania, Russia, Morocco and Tunisia with some 1,000 employees. The German car supplier most recently generated annual sales of around EUR 100m. Delfingen operates 26 plants in 20 countries. With approximately 3,000 employees, the company recorded sales of EUR 230m last year.

Schlemmer, which specialises in cable protection and injection mouldings, filed for insolvency in December 2019. The company’s activities in Asia have already been sold to its Chinese partner Fengmai-Ningbo Huaxiang Group.