Merger of IMS Group and Jacquet Metals

Above: Jacquet Metals - stainless steel rounds IMS UK, part of the IMS Group, has announced that following the Annual General Meetings of both companies’ shareholders, that the merger of Jacquet Metals into IMS Group has been approved and completed. Head quartered in France, IMS Group has been distributing abrasion resistant, high yield and specialty steels and manufacturing processed components for over 30 years. In 2009 the company had revenues of €727 million, and sales, distribution and processing locations in 17 European countries. The Group delivers its products within a number of diverse and varied industry sectors including; waste collection, mines and quarries, recycling of paper, wood, rubber, metal, glass and foundry sand, agricultural equipment, cement and concrete industries, building, construction and public works, foundry, iron and steel industries as well drilling and exploration. Based in Lyon, France, Jacquet Metals is a distributor of stainless steels and nickel alloys, primarily for thick plate format, so-called “QUARTO”. It has a network of 38 subsidiaries including 22 distribution centres, and operates globally in the water treatment, environment, energy, mechanical construction, chemistry and the agri-food industry sectors. Jacquet Metals had world-wide sales of €131m in 2009, with over 80% of their sales being international. The newly merged company said recently that the move brings together product portfolios that are highly complementary. With the increased product line distributed by Jacquet Metals, IMS Group is now playing a major role in four distribution markets within Europe: steels, mechanical abrasion-resistant steels, steel bars and stainless steel quarto plates. The merger was authorised by the European Commission competition authorities on 14 July 2010 and completed on 20 July 2010. A nine member Board of Directors has been established for the new Group with Eric Jacquet appointed as Chairman and CEO. The new Group has expected combined 2010 revenues of more than €1 billion.