Tuesday 7 February 2023
Following the award of its 5G licence last June, the NRB Group is taking a new stride forward in the world of connectivity and telecommunications. One more step towards the success of its strategic plan for 2026.
For several years, the idea of an acquisition between WIN and NRB has been under discussion within the NRB Group, which is one of the top 3 IT companies in Belgium. “WIN and NRB are strategically complementary. The collaboration of the two companies will create a solid player to accelerate digital transformation”, explains Henri Thonnart, CEO of the NRB Group.
He continues, “Faced with very large international operators and local competitors that are expanding, we will continue to pursue growth in order to remain a major player in our market. One of the objectives of our 2026 strategic plan is to strengthen our core business, both in terms of the sectors and the regions where we are present, and broaden our service offering, particularly around 5G. Currently, the number one digital challenge for our clients is connectivity: the speed, stability and hyper security of data are now the essential ingredients of companies’ productivity and the efficiency of the public services and hospitals”. WIN has network infrastructure and storage; NRB has a 5G licence, the technological skills and a data centre. “Together we are about to create a key ICT player in Belgium”, Henri Thonnart the CEO of the NRB Group announces proudly.
A sale validated by the boards of directors of Nethys and its shareholder Enodia
Nethys has mandated the bank Degroof Petercam to carry out the operation. It will be a contribution in kind, giving rise to an increase in capital equal to the value of WIN. Now the proposed sale is going to be submitted to the competition authority, which will reach a decision over the next few months. It has already received the support of the different boards of directors concerned, which have taken the time to scrutinize the scenario, one constructed in complete transparency.
“This operation consolidates the local roots of the NRB Group, which is 100% owned by Belgian economic and semi-public players. We see on a daily basis that it is crucial for our economy and for public and social institutions to be able to rely on an ICT partner that has the size and competence of the big ones plus a 100% local identity. This acquisition will allow the group to supplement its areas of activity and strengthen its capacity to provide its clients with global solutions”, says Henri Thonnart.
Instance
