EXEL industries - 2019 Universal Registration Document
Presentation of c the c Group 2 History of the Group
History of the Group
2.1
In 1946, Vincent BALLU, the father of Patrick BALLU and grandfather of Guerric BALLU, the current CEO, invents, develops and builds the prototype of the fi rst “high-clearance tractor” for use in the vineyards of the famous Champagne producer Moët et Chandon. In 1947, this achievement won him fi rst prize from the Association Viticole Champenoise and marked the beginning of automation for wine growing in Champagne and subsequently all narrow vineyards.
1952 Vincent BALLU founds the family company TECNOMA, to sell the high-clearance tractors. 1953 TECNOMA becomes a local dealer for c VERMOREL spraying equipment. 1960 TECNOMA takes over manufacturing of c its c new synthetic resin sprayers. 1966 Acquisition of former market leader VERMOREL, Ulysse Fabre and Lachazette. 1967 First export award. 1975 Launch of the fi rst garden spraying equipment made with synthetic resin injection. 1980 Death of the company’s founder: Vincent c BALLU. Patrick BALLU takes the helm from his father, the Company generates close to €12 c million in sales. 1986 The family company acquires agricultural spraying companies CARUELLE, near Orléans, and NICOLAS, in Agen. 1987 Acquisition of BERTHOUD, the leading manufacturer of farm and garden sprayers in France, with its subsidiaries SEGUIP, THOMAS and PERRAS. The family company is renamed EXEL and becomes a multi-brand group in agricultural and consumer spraying. 1989 Acquisition of VITITRAC and LOISEAU, competitors in the high-clearance tractor segment.
1990 Acquisition of PRÉCICULTURE, the French leader in agricultural self-propelled sprayers and high-clearance tractors. 1993 The Group’s legal structure is simpli fi ed and it is renamed EXEL Industries, owning the trademarks and patents. 1996 After having established positions in the agriculture and consumer segments, the EXEL Industries group diversi fi es into the industrial market with the acquisition of KREMLIN, the international paint spraying company. 1997 EXEL Industries lists on the Paris stock exchange with sales of €150 c million at the time, of which 75% earned in France and 25% abroad. 2000 Acquisition of FISCHER and REXSON. 2001 Acquisition of SAMES, a leading maker of electrostatic industrial spraying equipment, and MATROT, the leading French manufacturer of self-propelled sprayers and sugar beet harvesters. 2003
2011 In April, Patrick BALLU passes the baton to his son, Guerric BALLU, who takes over as CEO of the EXEL Industries group with sales of €384 c million at the close of that fi scal year, of which 50% was earned in France, and 50% abroad. 2012 Acquisition of AGRIFAC, a Dutch company specializing in agricultural spraying and sugar beet harvesters. Acquisition of the British company HOZELOCK, one of the leading European manufacturers of gardening equipment with a product range including watering, spraying, technical hoses (TRICOFLEX brand) and aquatics. 2013 Acquisition of the German group HOLMER, the historical leader on the sugar beet harvester market, with a global presence. EXEL Industries becomes the world leader on the sugar beet harvester market. EXEL Industries now has four businesses: Agricultural Spraying, Sugar Beet Harvesters, Garden Watering and Spraying and Industrial Spraying. Merger of all sugar beet harvester brands under the HOLMER brand. 2016 Acquisition of the ETWorks group, a US company specialized in self-propelled agricultural sprayers. Sale of the HERRIAU seeders. Merger of KREMLIN REXSON and SAMES Technologies which become SAMES KREMLIN. 2017 Sale of RAM Environnement. Merger of MATROT Équipements and HARDI EVRARD to form Groupe HARDI France. EXEL Industries sees sales of €874 c million, of c which 20% in France and 80% abroad. 2019 EXXACT Robotics established. Guerric BALLU replaced by Yves BELEGAUD, the fi rst Chief Executive O ffi cer from outside the BALLU family.
Merger of KREMLIN and REXSON. Acquisition of HERRIAU (sugar beet harvesters). 2006 Acquisition of CMC (Constructions
Mécaniques Champenoises), a specialist in high-clearance tractors for wine growers. 2007 Acquisition of the Danish group HARDI, a worldwide manufacturer of agricultural sprayers. Acquisition of MOREAU, the French leader in sugar beet harvesters.
EXEL Industries Group I 2019 Universal Registration Document 8
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