Reinventing a leader

Maillefer is the global leader in the production of solutions and systems to manufacture copper communications cables as well as electric wiring and cables. Maillefer also makes manufacturing systems for plastic tubing.

The group has its headquarters in Ecublens, Switzerland, and offices in Vantaa, Finland. Agencies have been opened in Canada, Russia, Brazil and China. The group employs 280 people. The Nokia-Maillefer industrial brand is reputed on its market, particularly for its quality, performance and commitment.

In 2001, Nextrom, a group listed on the Swiss stock market and which is partially owned by Nokia, decided to focus its strategy on the fibre-optics market in which the group was enjoying significant growth. Maillefer, its subsidiary, was put up for sale.

Argos Soditic organized Maillefer’s management buy-out with a majority stake alongside the incumbent management team. The five executives in the management team, led by Mr Pentti Hatala, had more than 54 years of experience between them in the company.

A successful restructuring project

Maillefer’s strategy is based on:

• maintaining its leadership position on the mature cables and metal wiring market, and continuing its development on the tubing market;
• the introduction of an outsourcing plan to vary fixed costs and hence reduce the breakeven level;
• the transition from an industrial activity to a designer and service provider.

This strategy to transform the business model has taken several years. It has allowed the company to significantly increase its reactivity and profitability, and to tap into the increase in demand of recent years.

Maillefer was sold in December 2007, via a secondary management buy-out