Textiles group Compagnie Chargeurs Invest prepares to sell Novacel protective films

French textile group Compagnie Chargeurs Invest has announced it has entered exclusive negotiations to sell its Novacel protective films business. The group also says it is open to welcoming minority partners into its other assets.

Negotiations are being conducted with KPS Capital Partners. Compagnie Chargeurs Invest is considering retaining a 25% stake in Novacel to support its future development. The talks could culminate in a transaction in the first half of 2026.

“Novacel’s trajectory is the culmination of long-term support from Compagnie Chargeurs Invest which, with the backing of talented and disciplined management teams, has made it a highly profitable global leader in its market with very strong growth potential,” said CEO Michaël Fribourg.

Renamed earlier this year, Compagnie Chargeurs Invest comprises three divisions: Culture & Education, Fashion & Savoir-faire (Chargeurs PCC, Luxury Fibers, etc.), and Innovative Materials (Novacel). Chargeurs has recently established a dedicated shirting division. This unit brings together several of its holdings, such as Swiss specialists Alumo and Eugster & Huber, as well as the Brennet brand, which has been repositioned with a particular focus on innovation.

The group generated revenue of 729.6 million euros in the 2024 financial year, up 11.9%, or 10.7% on an organic basis. Compagnie Chargeurs Invest recently announced the appointment of Carla Bruni-Sarkozy to its board of directors.

Over the first nine months of the year, the group’s Fashion & Savoir-faire segment showed a contraction of 7.5% to 138.8 million euros for Chargeurs PCC, and a decline of 5.4% to 55.7 million euros for Luxury Fibers.