World leader in the production and distribution of construction materials, Cupa Group has just announced its takeover by the Canadian fund Brookfield. Founded in 1892, the Spanish group was, since 2016, the property of the American fund Carlyle.
The company, based in Rennes since 1990, exports 80.000 tonnes of shale each year to France, the world's leading consumer of slate. Today, 40% of natural slate imported into France comes from quarries operated by CUPA PIZARRAS.
CUPA PIZARRAS, which has 20 quarries, controls 45% of world production of natural slate. In France, the company aims to exceed 50% market share in the years to come.
Stéphane Renard, CUPA PIZARRAS Commercial Director in France, says: “The collaboration with Carlyle has proven fruitful: it has made it possible to structure the group's activity and develop production, through the acquisition of quarries. We are now delighted to be able to count on the support of a new owner who places the group's tradition at the heart of his priorities. Javier Fernández, CEO of Cupa, and son of one of the founders of the company remains in effect at its head. In France, 2022 is already shaping up to be an excellent year as our order book is already full. In particular, we are going to participate in large-scale projects such as the Château de Villers-Cotterêt, the cathedrals of Bergerac or Soisson and we have beautiful projects planned for the facade."
Previously exclusively focused on the roof, the activity of CUPA PIZARRAS is now part of modernity with a significant increase in the number of building sites on the facade. The company is also working to develop new uses for slate by capitalizing on the ability of shale to capture heat to transform it into clean energy. Thermoslate, its thermal solar panel with invisible sensors, thus makes it possible to ensure the production of domestic hot water or to heat the water of a swimming pool.
