The Pâques family has sold its remaining 80% shareholding in Paques to the existing 20% minority shareholder SKion Water. At the time of SKion’s initial investment in Paques at the end of 2011, Paques represented SKion’s first water sector investment.
Over the past few years, rapid growth has turned Paques into an important player in the international market for industrial wastewater treatment. Paques designs, sells, and maintains biotechnological processes and systems for the purification of wastewater and gas.
This market is going through an important transition. Today’s customers increasingly demand complete solutions, turnkey project delivery, and on occasion even ‘own and operate’ contracts. Following this trend implies an important change in the business model of Paques: from technology development, where Paques has its roots, to contracting.
The acquisition by SKion Water ensures Paques is able to respond to this market development. SKion Water provides fresh water and wastewater treatment solutions to both municipal and industrial customers. The largest companies within SKion Water are Ovivo, EnviroChemie Group and ELIQUO WATER GROUP. With the acquisition of Paques, SKion Water can leverage Paques’ technologies across the offerings of its group companies and thereby increase Paques’ market potential. Today, SKion Water has a group turnover of roughly 700 million euros and operations across the world. SKion Water is 100% owned by German entrepreneur Susanne Klatten.