Around 200 employees of Fonderie de Bretagne (FDB) were present this Wednesday, January 22, before the commercial court of Rennes (Ille-et-Vilaine), where the management of the former subsidiary of the car manufacturer Renault requested its placement in recovery judicial.
The company, located in Caudan, near Lorient, has been in suspension of payments since January 15. It employs around 350 people. During this Wednesday’s hearing, which lasted approximately two hours, its management requested placement in receivership with a search for a buyer, said its general director, Jérôme Dupont. “We are now fighting to save the company in this new context, he told reporters. Renault’s position in the matter remains central.”
Coming from Morbihan in four buses chartered by the CGT, employees gathered in front of the court during the hearing. Former subsidiary of the diamond manufacturer, Fonderie de Bretagne was sold in 2022 to the German investment fund Callista Private Equity. But the automotive group remained the Foundry’s main client, representing 95% of its turnover in 2024.
“We came two years ago when Calista was chosen” to take over the Fonderie de Bretagne, “we don’t want history to repeat itself and the court to validate any plan” recovery, defended Maël Le Goff, CGT delegate of the company. The average age of employees is 48 years old, with very specialized professions. “It’s going to be difficult to turn around”worries the union representative.
-“We don’t want history to repeat itself”
FDB, which notably produces cast iron parts for suspensions and exhausts, began negotiations in July with another German investment fund, Private Assets, for its takeover. This fund, owner of a group of foundries in Germany and Spain, Procast Guss, was committed to bringing 11,000 tonnes of production to the workload plan, according to the management of Fonderie de Bretagne. Still according to her, Renault refused in December to commit to future orders, scuppering the agreement to take over Private Assets.
The decision from the Rennes commercial court is expected on Thursday. The judges should probably order judicial relief.
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