The WEPA Group, one of the three largest manufacturers of hygiene paper in Europe, and MPH1865, a leading French manufacturer of hygiene paper and soap in the away from home sector, plan to join forces: the WEPA Group intends to acquire a majority of the shares of MPH1865. The aim is to further internationalise WEPA’s presence in Europe in the away from home market and to serve customers and the markets best.
Closing of the proposed acquisition is subject to obtaining all necessary approvals, including merger control.
The planned acquisition represents a long-term oriented step for both companies since joint forces will lead to international growth and a strengthened market position in the French away from home market.
Both WEPA and MPH1865 are family businesses and place great emphasis on operational excellence, local production, employee engagement, customer focus and sustainability. The acquisition will bring together the strengths of both companies for the benefit of customers, employees and the entire industry.
Local and international customers and partners will profit from the strengthened presence in the French professional market, the broad and innovative hygiene product portfolio and consistently high standards in quality, service, and sustainability.
MPH1865’s industrial site network will be fully maintained and further strengthened and all current employees will continue to be employed. Marc Miribel will remain President of the business with its headquarters in South France.
Andreas Krengel, Chief Commercial Officer of the WEPA Group: “By joining forces with MPH1865 we will create additional value for our national and international customers: broader expertise and more innovative product solutions. This step will allow us to serve our markets with greater proximity, agility and reliability.”
Martin Krengel, CEO of the WEPA Group, adds: “We are looking forward to further grow in France and to expand our Franco-German cooperation. As family businesses, MPH1865 and WEPA share the same values and think beyond generations – it is a perfect fit.”
Marc Miribel, President and CEO of MPH1865: “This partnership is an important step to ensure our company’s future: this way we can strengthen local production, secure industrial capacity, and further develop the professional hygiene market in France, while at the same time we will profit from the experience and the European network of the WEPA Group.”
About MPH1865
Founded in 1865, MPH1865 is a French family-owned company that has become one of the national leaders in paper wiping products and hygiene solutions for professionals. Based in Ardèche and Drôme, the company operates modern, fully integrated industrial facilities (papermaking, converting, soap production, logistics), employs around 260 people, and produces up to 60,000 tonnes of paper per year.
MPH1865 is recognised for its commitment to a responsible, sustainable, and innovative French industry, serving health, hygiene and environmental performance.
About WEPA
The WEPA Group is one of the three largest hygiene paper manufacturers in Europe. The family business, headquartered in Arnsberg, Germany, employs around 4,300 people at 14 locations in Europe.
It produces hygiene paper for private, public and commercial sectors – from toilet paper and paper towels to handkerchiefs and napkins. As a specialist in the processing of recycled fibres, WEPA is one of the pioneers in sustainability in the industry. In France, the group already has two sites in Lille and Troyes for its consumer business unit, as well as a paper for recycling processing plant in Château-Thierry.
The Professional business unit with the Satino by WEPA brand stands for sustainable and professional hygiene solutions which are used, for instance, in public washrooms, the industry, offices or health care facilities. Products such as the Satino PureSoft hygiene paper and the dispenser series Hyginity have received prestigious awards like the Ecodesign award and the Red Dot award.
