A massive blow for the town of Eymoutiers in Haute-Vienne, the Deguillaume company, placed in compulsory liquidation, dismisses its 29 employees. The information revealed by our colleagues from Le Populaire this Friday morning was confirmed to us. The manufacturer of skips and agricultural tools has been experiencing major financial difficulties since the Covid crisis in particular. The first dismissal letters were sent on Thursday November 7.
“It’s a really difficult time.”
The mayor of Eymoutiers Mélanie Plazanet expresses her anger and disappointment. “It's catastrophic. The employees are frantic, demotivated. For us, a rural town of 2,000 inhabitants, it represents a big business. I was born there, I grew up with Deguillaume, it's a material heritage that we are trying to preserve.”
Benoit Masseux, 26, welding team leader, is now unemployed. “I lose everything. It’s not easy to take”underlines the 26-year-old young man who says he has always “vu du Deguillaume” around him. “I'm a country boy. I grew up there. I'm invested in the life of the company, it hurts my heart not to have managed to fix the situation. Seeing the machines running, hearing the farmers, I can't do without it. We know the product we sell and we are proud of it.”
1.3 million public subsidies invested
In this case, the mayor questions the absence of traceability of public funds granted. In 2021, the manufacturer, already in receivership during the covid crisis, was bought by the Saint-Etienne company Steva. A public envelope of1.3 million euros was then released in an attempt to save the limousine company.
“The region lent 500,000 euros in a repayable advance, the State 800,000 euros in a repayable advance. I am very angry because it was with our teeth that we had to get the aid. I believed, I was made to believe, there are set-ups, systems. supports Mélanie Plazanet. The municipality had even purchased two hectares of land to build a new building and improve the working conditions of employees. “Where did the public money go?” asks the chosen one. “Can we get a report on all of this?”
A company riddled with debt
In September 2023, David Dethoor was hired by the Steva group as general manager on the site, to try to turn things around. “I arrived after the passage of five general directors”, testifies the CEO. He insists on the sensitivity of the gangrenous file by a very heavy debt liability with suppliers. “We had colossal debts, which amounted to 700,000 euros the first year, 1.4 million the second. And since my arrival, the holding company has not injected any money into Deguillaume. We are a team that has worked since we released five machines per week instead of three”argues David Dethoor.
The hope of a buyer?
“He straightened the box.” agrees the mayor of Eymoutiers Mélanie Plazanet. “He reduced his debt in a few months, increased the number of orders, and we thought it could become a real, successful business.” The efforts of the site management are short-circuited by the financial fragilities of the headquarters.” In March 2024, Steva is placed in recovery, “we had the right person, but not at the right time”, sighs the chosen one.
Determined not to give up, Mélanie Plazane still hopes to find a buyer : “We are very proud of it at home because the company is a great company and we know that its national image is very good. We must not give up on that.”
