百年巨头,将停止运营
证券时报·2025-12-15 14:01

Core Viewpoint - The French appliance manufacturer Brandt Group has entered judicial liquidation, marking the end of operations for a company once considered a symbol of French industry, resulting in approximately 700 job cuts [1][4]. Group 1: Company Background - Brandt Group was founded in 1924 by French entrepreneur Edgar Brandt and was acquired by an Algerian appliance giant in 2014. The company operated in 36 countries and regions, generating an annual revenue of approximately €260 million, equivalent to about 2.15 billion RMB [8]. - Brandt Group was one of the few large appliance manufacturers in France that still retained production lines [8]. Group 2: Financial Challenges - The company has faced declining sales for two consecutive years starting in 2023, primarily due to a sluggish real estate market and a drop in large appliance consumption, leading to an expanding funding gap [10]. - In October 2023, Brandt Group was placed under bankruptcy restructuring due to operational difficulties [10]. Group 3: Government Intervention - As a relief measure, government and local officials proposed an employee-managed "cooperative takeover plan," which promised to retain at least 300 jobs and keep two factories in Orleans and Vendôme operational. However, the feasibility of this plan has not yet been approved by the court [10]. - It is estimated that restoring production at Brandt Group would require between €20 million and €25 million, approximately 170 million to 210 million RMB, while the company's cash flow is insufficient to support salary payments after December 15 [10].