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FN Browning Group, parent company of FN Herstal and Browning, has announced exclusive negotiations to acquire the French company Sofisport, a global leader in the production of shotshells and shotshell components for hunting and sport.

The proposed acquisition builds on the industrial, geographical, and cultural complementarity between Sofisport, a family-owned French enterprise, and FN Browning Group, which is owned by the Walloon Region, part of Belgium's federal state. Sofisport's product range is said to perfectly complement FN Browning Group's existing portfolio of brands.

The two companies, renowned for their expertise and strong local industrial bases, aim to establish a fully integrated, world-class European manufacturer of small arms and ammunition. The acquisition comes as both firms face increasing competition from larger integrated players, a challenge that the deal seeks to address by strengthening their competitiveness, innovation capacity, and market performance.

The deal remains subject to customary conditions, including antitrust and regulatory approvals.

Pierre-Yves Jeholet, Vice-President Of The Walloon Government And Minister For The Economy, welcomed the development, saying, “The competitiveness of European industry is a fundamental challenge for the future of the Union and our countries. Consolidating and building European groups that are leaders in their fields is one of the keys to meeting this challenge. The acquisition of Sofisport by FN Browning Group is a concrete and relevant step in this international context and is in line with our commitment to the reindustrialization of Wallonia. For the Walloon Government, defense is a strategic sector.”

Julien Compère, CEO Of FN Browning Group, highlighted the strategic importance of the deal: “FN Browning Group and Sofisport are world leaders in their respective fields, with highly complementary and world-renowned expertise. Together, we would create a strong, sustainable group with leading brands and a comprehensive range of products and services in each of our core businesses: defense and security on the one hand, and hunting and sport shooting on the other.”

For Paolo Pederzoli, CEO Of Sofisport, the agreement represents a key opportunity: “In a rapidly consolidating industry, this operation would create a world-leading group. The combination of Sofisport's culture of efficiency and performance with the FN Browning Group's culture of innovation and excellence would form the solid basis of a new leading group focused on sustainability, innovation, and performance.”

About FN Browning Group
Established in 1889 and headquartered in Herstal, Belgium, FN Browning Group designs and manufactures small arms, ammunition, and integrated weapon systems. Its products, known for reliability and innovation, are marketed under brands such as FN and Browning. The company employs over 3,000 people and operates production facilities in Belgium, Portugal, Finland, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

About Sofisport
Headquartered in Paris, Sofisport is a world leader in the production of hunting and sporting shotshells, as well as ammunition components. The company operates across fifteen active sites in France, Italy, Spain, the UK, and Canada, employing 1,000 people. Its subsidiaries include Nobel Sport, Cheddite, and Sofiam.

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