The future of insolvent auto supplier Cadence Innovation France (Saint Marcel / France), formerly Peguform France, appears to be taking shape (see Plasteurope.com Web of 12.12.2006). The chamber of commerce at Evreux / France has extended the insolvency administration period for the bumper fasica specialist until 21 January 2007 to give potential buyers a chance to conclude ongoing negotiations about acquiring parts of the business.

Talks with Faurecia (Nanterre / France) appear to be the most advanced. The company is seeking to take over Cadence production at Noeux-Les-Mines as well as at Burnhaupt-le-Haut, in partnership with GMD (Saint Etienne / France; www.groupe-gmd.fr). The latter company, with the full name of Groupe Mécanique Découpage), is active mainly in metalworking, but also in plastics processing. With 21 affiliates and sales of EUR 265m in 2005, its most prominent involvement in plastics is through automotive supply arm Sogaplast (Chateau Landon / France; www.sogaplast.com).

Sora Composites (Changé / France; www.sora-composites.fr) has the best chances of winning the Pouancé facility, according to French press reports. Due to its closer geographic proximity, the converter is said to be favoured over Italian competitor Ranger Plast (Albiate Brianza; www.ranger.it). Sora is expected to take over 255 of the 350 employees at Pouancé. The family-owned company, composed of the segments Sotira (production of RTM and SMC components) and SPPP (Class A coatings for composite parts), employs 710 people and reported 2005 sales of EUR 62m, along with EUR 3.8m in net profit. It currently operates eight production facilities in France, supplying mainly the automotive sector, but also the construction, railcar and electrical industries.

The Cadence main plant at Saint Marcel is now thought likely to go to Plastic Omnium (PO, Levallois / France; www.plasticomnium.com). Germany´s Peguform (Bötzingen; www.peguform.de) is believed to have bowed out of the race altogether.