AMERICAN PAYNE FENCE
Betafence acquires majority share in the company

Betafence confirms its growth by acquiring a majority share in the American Payne Fence. 

Worldwide Belgium based market leader and American leader benefit from their complementarities and unite in a joint venture. 

Betafence, the worldwide leader in the market of comprehensive protection solutions for both residential and business or public locations, and Payne Fence, the leading U.S. manufacturer and innovator of security fencing and gates, have announced a joint venture in which Betafence will have a majority stake. 

With this joint venture, both companies emphasize their mutual ambitions to increase their worldwide growth with complimentary offers. Both Payne Fence and Betafence are dynamic and rapidly growing players who face an increasing demand for comprehensive security solutions, in the residential as well as in the industrial and public markets. Betafence operates on a worldwide level and positions itself increasingly as a Solution Provider, protecting homes, schools, companies and public infrastructures. The Beijing Olympic Games are just one example of the many ongoing large projects of the company. Betafence currently has 14 production sites in 12 countries and commercial sites in 25 countries. In the context of its international expansion, Betafence has recently invested in China, South-Africa, Poland and Turkey and now makes a move to the American continent. 

“We are delighted about this new joint venture”, said Patrick Lecluyse, CEO of Betafence. “Payne Fence is an innovative and strong company that invests in R&D and the development of patented designs. With the dynamics of its company culture and its strong position in the American market, it is a vital new link in our worldwide organization. We have the ambition to perform in 2008, for the first time in our history, a turnover beyond the magic figure of €500 million. This joint venture perfectly fits with that ambition, not only from a financial but also from a company-cultural and geographical point of view. We are now able to offer American customers a local service based on proximity and a perfect understanding of their specific needs.” 

“Betafence is known throughout the world as the leader in high-quality fence manufacturing”, added John Payne, founder and CEO of Payne Fence. “The foundation of our new organization lies on the synergies between our organizations: on the one hand Payne Fence’s innovation capability and North-American relations and on the other hand Betafence’s worldwide footprint as the provider of comprehensive security solutions. Together, we can broaden our offer and adapt it to the needs of our clients, allowing them to “securing what matters”. In the context of this venture, we invested €3 million in a bright new production line in our manufacturing facility in Texas, to produce welded wire mesh.” 

Payne Fence employs 50 specialists who, added to the group, total up the number of Betafence employees to 2.130. Betafence aims at a turnover of €512 million in 2008 and is based today in 14 production sites (Texas included) and 25 commercial sites, in more than 100 countries.