The Liege Airport is working on a co-operation agreement with the management of the Paris airports. Speaking to the Walloon Parliament, Transport Minister Michel Lebrun said Bierset would become an important economic spearhead for Wallonia, and Liege airport would start a commercial co-operation project with Paris, in which the French airports would become 25% stakeholders in Liege Airport. Liege is a key link for Paris in an airport and High Speed Train network including Lille and Lyon and the German city of Cologne. The co-operation project will reinforce the Walloon Government’s decision on a new investment programme for Liege Airport.

Cockerill Sambre (Usinor) expands its stake in Eko Stahl

Liege-based steel group Cockerill Sambre is about to increase its interest in German affiliate Eko Stahl with an investment of USD 90 million (Euro 75 million). Last December, following the privatisation of Eko Stahl - the largest steel producer in Eastern Germany, Cockerill bought the remaining 40% stake in the company to give it 100% ownership. Cockerill and its French parent Usinor made a commitment to the German Government to invest in the company’s development and to retain at least 2,200 jobs until 2004. Cockerill has had a majority stake in Eko Stahl since 1994. The Eisenhüttenstadt based company had a turnover in 1998 of nearly USD 1 billion (Euro 800 million) and recorded pleasing profits.

Chaudfontaine acquires companies in Belgium, France and the UK

Liege based mineral water producer Chaudfontaine has taken over Ben Shaws in the United Kingdom and signed an agreement with Mc Cain Foods for the full acquisition of Sunnyland France and Sunnyland Belgium. With these acquisitions, the Chaudfontaine group is becoming an important player in the international soft drinks market. With a market share of 27%, Ben Shaws (Benjamin Shaw & Sons Holdings Limited) is the second mineral water producer in the United Kingdom. Fruit and soft drinks producer Sunnyland has recently shown strong sector growth in Belgium (16.5%), France (6.1%) and The Netherlands (7.1%).

According to Chaudfontaine President and Chief Executive Officer Abbas Bayat, “These acquisitions are in line with our European expansion strategy, which is based on export and production development, as well as the extension of our product diversity. In the coming years, the company envisages investing heavily in marketing and distribution with a view to strengthening its commercial position in the Benelux, France and the United Kingdom”. With the acquisition of Ben Shaws and Sunnyland, the Chaudfontaine group now has 685 employees. In 1998, these companies produced almost 390 million litres of mineral water, fruit and soft drinks, while achieving a consolidated turnover of USD 200 million (Euro 170 million). The first hot water springs in Liege were discovered at the end of the Middle Ages and today Chaudfontaine’s mineral water is the only deep spring water in Belgium.