Clarysse Acquires Majority Interest in ITM
December 12, 2000
Kruishoutem, Belgium — In July 2000, Belgian toweling weavers Clarysse became the majority shareholders of the upholstery fabric weaving mill ITM International. Clarysse took over the shares of the two brothers of ITM's founder, Dirk Malfait, who was in charge of product management and financial management, respectively. Internal solutions were found for their succession: the former supervisor of the mill was promoted to product manager, and the responsibility for the accounts was transferred to the financial department of Clarysse.
Dirk Malfait will stay on as the general director, and is pleased at having found a partner in a healthy company in a complementary sector.
With a turnover of about $38 million and 250 employees, Clarysse, based in the Belgian town of Pittem, is one of the largest toweling manufacturers in Europe. Yarn-dyers Van Coppenolle and piece-dyers Tardel, both from Ronse, are also part of the group. Together, the two finishing companies employ 70 people and make an additional turnover of $9.5 million for the group. "In toweling, we have grown into one of the major players on the market, with our own finishing companies as an added value," says Bernard Clarysse, who runs the company together with his brother, Luc. "We asked ourselves whether there was still room for us to grow in our sector, and decided it would be more expedient to diversify into another market segment. ITM is a good choice: it is a prospering business in a flourishing textile branch, and it has gradually attained a high level in the field of design and use of materials, so that it fits in perfectly with our own upgrading policy of recent years."
For the customers, the new structure of ITM will have few consequences. However, with the financial strength of the new parent company, delivery service and quality-assurance are expected to improve. "ITM is a high-class mill with a sophisticated collection. We don't want to change a winning combination. Any adjustments that may be necessary won't be made until later. We will probably work out synergies. But we intend to guarantee the continuity of the company. Instead of attempting to force growth, we take the sensible approach of producing what the market wants," said Bernard Clarysse.
ITM was started in 1990 by Dirk Malfait, with the financial support of two brothers and today is considered a trendsetter in the upholstery fabrics market. Today, ITM is a modern mill with 20,000 square meters of premises in the industrial zone of Kruishoutem. Last year, it made a turnover of BEF 500 million with 28 fully automatic looms and 40-member workforce. F&FI
Dirk Malfait will stay on as the general director, and is pleased at having found a partner in a healthy company in a complementary sector.
With a turnover of about $38 million and 250 employees, Clarysse, based in the Belgian town of Pittem, is one of the largest toweling manufacturers in Europe. Yarn-dyers Van Coppenolle and piece-dyers Tardel, both from Ronse, are also part of the group. Together, the two finishing companies employ 70 people and make an additional turnover of $9.5 million for the group. "In toweling, we have grown into one of the major players on the market, with our own finishing companies as an added value," says Bernard Clarysse, who runs the company together with his brother, Luc. "We asked ourselves whether there was still room for us to grow in our sector, and decided it would be more expedient to diversify into another market segment. ITM is a good choice: it is a prospering business in a flourishing textile branch, and it has gradually attained a high level in the field of design and use of materials, so that it fits in perfectly with our own upgrading policy of recent years."
For the customers, the new structure of ITM will have few consequences. However, with the financial strength of the new parent company, delivery service and quality-assurance are expected to improve. "ITM is a high-class mill with a sophisticated collection. We don't want to change a winning combination. Any adjustments that may be necessary won't be made until later. We will probably work out synergies. But we intend to guarantee the continuity of the company. Instead of attempting to force growth, we take the sensible approach of producing what the market wants," said Bernard Clarysse.
ITM was started in 1990 by Dirk Malfait, with the financial support of two brothers and today is considered a trendsetter in the upholstery fabrics market. Today, ITM is a modern mill with 20,000 square meters of premises in the industrial zone of Kruishoutem. Last year, it made a turnover of BEF 500 million with 28 fully automatic looms and 40-member workforce. F&FI