Page 52 - HW December 2020

global eyes
Etex snaps up Knauf Australia
NeedHelp?
Kingfisher steps up
DIFM offering
Euro DIY giant Kingfisher has acquired fast growing European home improvement services marketplace NeedHelp for €10 million.
NeedHelp is an online platform that connects customers needing home improvement help, either in-store or online, with pre-qualified tradespeople and other skilled experts.
In 2020 the number of jobs completed through NeedHelp’s platform is set to near 60,000 and, with more people seeking to improve their homes since the pandemic began, the demand
for NeedHelp has accelerated, with monthly revenue doubling after the first lockdown period.
While most of its business is currently in France, its country of origin, NeedHelp also operates in Switzerland and has recently expanded into Germany, Belgium, Austria, and the Netherlands.
NeedHelp already provides services to customers in 500+ stores including Kingfisher’s French businesses, Castorama and Brico Dépôt, as well as to other leading home improvement retailers.
Kigfisher for its part intends to
further develop NeedHelp’s business
in Europe as well as rolling out the platform in Poland and the UK to its B&Q customers who it will probably hook up with Screwfix’s customer base of trade professionals.
Founded in France in 2014 by Guillaume de Kergariou, who will continue as CEO to lead the team
and grow the business, NeedHelp will continue to operate as an independent company and as such “will seek to
offer its installation capabilities to retail customers across the home improvement sector, through its open architecture model.”
www.needhelp.com
AT THE END of October 2020 an agreement was reached between Knauf and Boral for Knauf to acquire 100% of the USG Boral business in Australia and Asia.
To satisfy the ACCC undertaking that Knauf entered into when it acquired USG, the existing Knauf Australia business had to be sold.
In this respect, Knauf Group last month accepted an offer from Belgium’s Etex Group to purchase the plasterboard and metal business of Knauf in Australia, comprising three plasterboard plants
in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, as well as a metal profile production facility in Queensland.
A global manufacturer of lightweight building products, with revenues of almost €3 billion in 2019 and some 13,000 employees globally, Etex Group is purchasing Knauf Australia as a
going concern, and its 300+ Australian employees, including the management team, will continue to operate the business in Australia.
Knauf Australia Managing Director Gavin Burton says of the deal: “I am very excited about the synergies that Etex will bring to our business, with not only its plasterboard products and expertise, but also its other light weight building materials solutions.
“Etex is known for its excellent customer service, innovative solutions and a strong focus on workplace health and safety.”
The transaction is subject to the usual regulatory approvals and completion of the deal is expected in the first quarter of 2021.
https://knauf.solutions/ www.etexgroup.com
50 NZHJ | DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021
MORE AT www.hardwarejournal.co.nz
Cologne show cancelled for 2021
COVID-19 CONTINUES to wreak havoc with European and other international trade fairs.
The latest show to have to change
its plans is the Eisenwarenmesse or International Hardware Fair planned for 21-24 February 2021 in Cologne which the organisers say has had to be cancelled “due to the dynamic infection rate and current travel restrictions”.
“This cancellation was very difficult for us, as we were very well positioned to hold the fair with our hybrid fair format and the planned contents as well as the comprehensive hygiene and safety concept #B-SAFE4business.”
However, they continue: “due to
the dynamic infection situation and international travel restrictions, the majority of exhibitors ... ultimately decided not to participate” plus “in
view of the continuing rise in infections worldwide and the associated lockdowns, it was no longer possible to guarantee enough participation of international exhibitors and visitors.”
Rather than looking for a later date next year, the next Eisenwarenmesse will take place in Cologne over 6-9 March 2022, “with renewed energy and broad commitment from the industry”.
www.eisenwarenmesse.com