John Cockerill sells water treatment specialist Balteau to Belgian group Wanty

On November 15, 2024, John Cockerill announced that it had signed a definitive agreement to sell its Balteau business to the Wanty Group. This transaction is in line with the Group’s strategy of refocusing its activities on areas with strong export potential and high added value. Balteau will pursue its development by integrating a leading Belgian player in the Construction sector. With the acquisition of Balteau, Wanty expands its technical expertise in infrastructure.

Acquired by the John Cockerill Group in 2014 and based in Sprimont (Liège), Balteau specializes in municipal water collection, pumping, treatment and purification solutions, mainly in Belgium. Balteau employs 120 people.

Both John Cockerill and Wanty share the same values of innovation and operational excellence, offering their customers enhanced expertise and sustainable service in the fields of engineering and infrastructure. By joining the Wanty Group, Balteau will continue to benefit not only from a stable local base, but also from strengthened positioning in Belgium’s public sector markets and new growth opportunities in the infrastructure and construction sector.

With the acquisition of Balteau, the Wanty Group is pursuing its diversification strategy and strengthening its market position. In addition to its core infrastructure business, Wanty is also a major player in the deconstruction, building, electrical and industrial (R&D) sectors. The integration of Balteau enhances this portfolio by bringing complementary expertise in wastewater treatment, electromechanical and electrotechnical equipment, and the management of hydraulic structures. This complementarity enables the Wanty Group to offer its customers an even wider range of integrated services. This acquisition also enables the Wanty Group to consolidate its presence in public markets, while expanding its opportunities in the private sector, where demand for sustainable and innovative water treatment solutions is growing strongly.

François Michel, CEO of John Cockerill: “John Cockerill is delighted that Balteau will retain its strong local roots. Balteau’s employees are joining a stable group, with prospects for professional development in a dynamic environment. We wish them every success in their future development.”

Christophe Wanty and Benoit Soenen, Managing Directors of the Wanty Group: “ With the acquisition of Balteau, the Wanty Group is diversifying and enriching its portfolio of services. We are delighted to welcome Balteau’s employees into the Wanty family, and to offer them new prospects as we write a new page in our history together. This acquisition also strengthens our human dimension: Balteau’s 120 employees join our 1,700-strong team, contributing to our growth and our shared ambition to pursue excellence and performance in our businesses.”

Wallonie Entreprendre played a pro-active role in the sale of John Cockerill Balteau to the Wanty Group as part of a carve-out. Sabine Colson, Senior Investment Manager Wallonie Entreprendre: “Throughout the transaction, we observed a natural synergy between the corporate cultures of John Cockerill Balteau and Wanty Group. This strong alignment augurs well for a promising future and lasting success for this new entity.”