The tight timelines leave little doubt about the intentions of the court-appointed administrators overseeing Ziegler’s French subsidiary since its placement in judicial restructuring in early March by the Lille commercial court. According to reports, they have set a deadline of end of March to receive applications from potential buyers or investors for the French entity of this Belgian transport and logistics group.
1,436 jobs at stake
Time is pressing for Ziegler France and its 1,436 employees spread across 51 branches in France, handling freight transport, logistics, forwarding, transit, and customs operations. Chronically loss-making well before the Covid crisis, Ziegler France managed to return to profitability between 2019 and 2022 before slipping back into deficit, posting nearly €4 million in net losses in 2023 and almost €7 million in 2024, despite revenues of €414 million — a 13% increase.
Multiple subsidiaries included in the process
The acquisition tender also includes Ziegler France’s stakes in several subsidiaries: Transco (€53 million revenue in 2024, 131 employees across branches in Colmar, Epinal, Besançon, Metz, Strasbourg, and Dijon), Satra (€16.7 million revenue, 71 employees in Lesquin, Bapaume, and Aulnay-sous-Bois), Ziegler Services (truck rental, €21 million revenue, 55 employees in Bressuire), and Dornach France (IT services, €17.6 million revenue, 55 employees in Roncq).
Also included is an 82%-owned Moroccan subsidiary in Casablanca employing 33 people with €6 million in revenue for 2024. The Ziegler group retains the option of presenting a continuation plan for its French subsidiary.
