Sogeclair purchases majority shareholding of MSB Group

Tuesday 25th November 2014

Sogeclair, the French based aerospace engineering and contracting company has purchased 80% of Montreal, Canada-based precision engineering company MSB Group, for an undisclosed amount. The management of the MSB Group, which co

nsists of the engineering division MSB Design and the contract engineering company MSB Ressources Globales, made the decision to join Sogeclair following discussions with a number of potential purchasers. Under the terms of the new agreement the MSB Group, will form the second largest division of the Sogeclair company portfolio.

Mario Sévigny Co-Founder of MSB, and Phillipe Robardey, CEO of Sogeclair signed the deal on 14 November 2014 in Montreal. Sévigny will become Vice President of MSB Group. He will be responsible for running (day-to-day) operations of the North American business reporting directly to Marc Darolles, President of MSB Group. Patrick St-Louis previously President of MSB Ressources Globales for Insourcing, will take up the new role of Vice President Strategic Programme and Customer Relationships. Both will remain key shareholders.

The deal brings a number of benefits to both companies. Operationally MSB Group will retain its team, the organisational structure and will benefit from increased financial resources for the development of large value projects. In addition Sogeclair's European presence and international network will widen MSB's global footprint and accelerate development in America. Sogeclair has mainly focused on the commercial sector of aviation so the deal will expand its business aviation network in which MSB is already well established. It is anticipated that the mutual cultures of innovation will provide employees with leading-edge expertise and create opportunities to share knowledge skills.

"MSB has expanded rapidly in the last five years and we were ready to move on to the next level," says Sevigny of the reasons for the deal, "We have been approached by a number of companies in the last year but the size, market knowledge and technical expertise of Sogeclair perfectly complemented what we do and we are delighted to part of this major aerospace organization."

Philippe Robardey, President and CEO of Sogeclair adds, "The complementary, in terms of segment, commercial aviation verses business aviation; know-how, interior cabin verses structure and architecture; and market, North America verses Europe, allows us to anticipate that there will be many more opportunities for both companies as a joint force, rather than independent entities. We are excited about all the future possibilities."

About MSB Group:

Montreal-based MSB Group is formed of MSB Design, which from 2005 has provided a one-stop service for customized precision-engineered products to the business aviation sector. MSB Ressources Globales is an engineering contract company providing long term project specialists to the aerospace industry.

The company know-how is driven by the concepts of quality, integrity and achievement which has earned it a reputation for paying careful attention to details. MSB has developed leading-edge expertise in this highly specialized sector.

MSB Design has three defined product lines. Crystal, China & Flatware inserts (CCF), Single pedestal Hi-Lo conference tables and a ready to assemble customized cabinet kit. Whilst MSB Ressouces Globales provides over 120 specialised engineers to the aviation sector.

Customers include leading OEMs including Bombardier with whom it has worked since inception and more recently Embraer and Gulfstream. It provides products to the international sector and is dedicated to living up to its reputation for reliability, quality, and innovation.

http://www.msbexpertise.com

About Sogeclair:  Sogeclair is an Aerospace sector provider offering specialist services (75%) and products (25%) in the areas of Aerospace, Simulation and Mission Vehicles. It employs more than 1,400 people with offices in seven countries and conducts business in more than 19 countries.

The Aerospace Division as part of Sogeclair is a major partner in engineering and a prime contractor for the aerospace industry for each and all of its domains of expertise and product line.

The Aerospace Division of Sogeclair comes in various forms, quality consultancy and management in the areas of:

- Aerostructure

- System installation

- Configuration and product data management

- Manufacturing engineering

- Equipment

The Aerospace Division offers solutions from development through to overall project management

The Aerospace Division controls R&D, project management, industrial co-operations programs, industrialisation, integration, certification, and process.

www.sogeclair.com