Ballast Nedam acquires Willems Bouwbedrijf B.V.: one big family

The takeover is a convergence of supply and demand. Willems Bouwbedrijf B.V. was looking for a future-proof party to take over the company; Ballast Nedam was looking for healthy growth. The perfect match, all the more because both companies focus on clients and employees.

Confidence in collaboration

“We are a real family business, with 50 employees and more than 120 years of experience in non-residential construction. The company has been in the family for five generations, so it is difficult to find a suitable partner to entrust your business to. A culture such as ours prevails within Ballast Nedam's regional construction companies; a culture of a family business. There is little hierarchy, everyone knows each other and we are close to the client. We are therefore a good match for working together in the future.” According to Joep Willems, director of Willems Bouwbedrijf B.V.

The takeover was also a great solution for Ballast Nedam to enable further growth in the region. “The takeover by Laudy Groep B.V. is a choice that suits the growth strategy of our company. We are looking for further diversification. Willems Bouwbedrijf meets this profile because, in addition to carrying out regular construction projects, it is a specialist in the non-residential construction market for SMEs and distribution centres. Also, Willems Bouwbedrijf recently acquired its own care concept Domi Curae. This is a very successful concept in which knowledge of healthcare is translated in an architecturally smart way into unique building solutions for the healthcare sector."

"Willems Bouwbedrijf is mainly active in Limburg, Oost Brabant and Gelderland. This way we can increase our reach in the south of the Netherlands and it is a nice transport corridor for the Venlo-Düsseldorf route. We think we are a good fit and we are looking forward to a great collaboration”, says Raymond Veugelers, Managing Director of Laudy Groep B.V.

The combination of the two companies brings the service level to clients to an even higher level and optimises this further. The new combination also offers employees numerous opportunities, because it creates an even broader basis for development and specialisation.

Within this takeover, the basic principle is that Willems Bouwbedrijf will continue to operate as an independently operating company under its own name with its own culture and existing management.

Entrepreneurship and personal contact

Willems further explains: “Both companies have an entrepreneurial spirit and understand the importance of being close to the market and knowing your clients. The local approach is aimed at autonomy in which short lines of communication, accessibility, personal contact and 'feeling at home' are important. That creates a good bond and ultimately a good result.”

In the coming months, the collaboration will be further explored and opportunities for knowledge sharing will be explored. The takeover is currently subject to approval by the Authority for Consumers and Markets (Autoriteit Consument & Markt).