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320 years of history,
nearly 50 in investment

Founded in the Lorraine region in the east of France in 1704, the Wendel Group developed its business over more than 300 years in diverse range of industrial sectors, with a focus on steelmaking. At the end of the 1970s, the French government nationalized all of the Group’s steel production activities. Wendel then turned its focus to long-term investing, establishing itself as a pioneer in private equity.

In 1704…

Jean-Martin de Wendel acquired the Hayange forges. From 1704 to 1870, the Group took advantage of the major inventions that accelerated the development of its iron and steel production: iron smelted with coke, widespread use of blast furnaces and rolling mills, the development of railroads, and other advancements. With the adoption of the “Thomas process”, which allowed for the manufacture of steel from Lorraine ore, the family companies—Les Petits-Fils de François de Wendel & Cie established in 1871 and Wendel & Cie founded in 1880—ranked among Europe’s leading steel producers.

In the 20th century, hard hit by two world wars that devastated Lorraine production facilities, the Group recovered and began to grow again. The creation of the Sollac production cooperatives in 1948, then Solmer in 1969, helped meet the growing demand for sheet steel.

Between 1950 and 1973, the Group was at its peak. In 1975, it produced 72% of France’s raw steel. In 1974, the sudden rise in oil prices led to a widespread economic crisis. The French steel industry faced a serious downturn. Fixed steel prices and investment in modernization strangled the industry financially. It was at this time that the government decided to nationalize the French steel industry, forcing Wendel to reorganize.

All non-steel assets were grouped into a new entity: Compagnie Générale d’Industrie et de Participations (CGIP). In 1977, the Group gained new momentum and began to diversify into new technology and service sectors, such as IT services, quality control and healthcare. In 2002, Marine-Wendel and CGIP merged to form Wendel Investissement, renamed Wendel in 2007.

Today

Wendel is one of Europe’s leading listed investment firms, working at the intersection of industry and finance. A long-term investor with permanent capital, Wendel has been supported for over three centuries by the Wendel family, its reference shareholder.
The 1,200 family shareholders are consolidated in Wendel-Participations, which holds a 39.3% stake in Wendel.

Since 1977, Wendel has invested in a great number of successful industrial companies, including Bureau Veritas, Saint-Gobain, Capgemini, CarnaudMetalbox (Crown Holdings Inc.), BioMérieux, Reynolds, Stallergenes, Wheelabrator Allevard, Valeo, Afflelou, Editis, Deutsch Group, Legrand and Allied Universal.

Learn more about Wendel’s shareholders

Three centuries of industrial investment

320 years of history, 273 years in the steel industry…
Nearly 50 years in investment.

1704
1815
1880
1948
1977
2002
2018
1704

Jean-Martin de Wendel acquires the Hayange forges

1815

François de Wendel enters politics

1880

The “Thomas process” gives rise to the Lorraine steel industry

1948

Rebuilding the country

1977

Diversification begins amid a deepening economic recession

2002

Moving into new business sectors

 

2018

A course maintained, create value for shareholders

Useful links
Useful links

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The information contained in this section of the website of Wendel (the “Seller”) (a) is only intended for, and may only be accessed by, or distributed or disseminated, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, to persons resident and physically present outside the United States of America (including its territories and possessions, any state of the United States and the District of Columbia, the “United States”), Australia, Canada, or Japan, and resident and physically present in a jurisdiction where to do so will not constitute a violation of the local securities laws or regulations of such jurisdiction, and (b) does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or acquire any securities of the Bureau Veritas (the “Company”) in the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, or any other jurisdiction where to do so might constitute a violation of the local securities laws or regulations of such jurisdiction.

The securities of the Company referred to in this section of the website (the “Securities”) have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) or with any securities regulatory authority of any state of the United States for offer or sale as part of their distribution and may not be offered or sold within the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and in compliance with any applicable securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States. The Securities have not been and will not be registered under the applicable securities laws of Australia, Canada or Japan, or any other jurisdiction in which it would be unlawful or would require registration or other measures, and therefore may not be offered or sold to or for the account or benefit of any person having a registered address in, or located or resident in, Australia, Canada, Japan or any other jurisdiction in which it would be unlawful or would require registration or other measures.

Access to the information contained on this portion of the website may be illegal in certain jurisdictions, and only certain categories of persons may be authorized to access such information and documents. All persons who wish to have access to the documents contained in this section of the Seller’s website should first ensure that they are not subject to local laws or regulations that prohibit or restrict their right to access this section of the website, or require registration or approval for any acquisition of securities by them. No such registration or approval has been or will be obtained. The Seller assumes no responsibility if there is a violation of applicable law and regulations by any person.

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