Leading US bumpers manufacturer Flex-N-Gate (Urbana, Illinois; www.flexngate.com) has made a binding offer to acquire seven of Plastic Omnium’s (PO, Levallois / France; www.plasticomnium.com) European plants. The French group purchased the facilities in mid-2016 when it bought the Exterior Systems business of Faurecia (Nanterre / France; www.faurecia.com). At the time, the authorities conditioned the acquisition on the divestiture of certain assets and with the offer by Flex-N-Gate, PO looks set to complete the transaction (for previous coverage, see Plasteurope.com of 20.07.2016). The deal still has to meet the necessary regulatory approvals, but is expected to be completed this year.

The two parties will now enter into exclusive discussions on the proposed takeover, which includes four plants in France, two in Germany and one in Spain. The facilities last posted cumulative sales of about EUR 700m. Altogether, about 2,000 employees will be affected by the transfer, which Flex-N-Gate says will not only expand its geographic footprint, but also allow it to forge “new partnerships with important European automotive customers not presently within our company portfolio.”

Globally active Flex-N-Gate employs more than 18,000 workers at 55 plants and product development facilities in Canada, the US, Mexico, Argentina, China, Japan, Brazil and Spain. The company specialises in the production of complete bumper assemblies, mechanical assemblies, exterior plastic trim and complex welded structural assemblies, among others. It purports to be the second largest bumpers producer in the US.