Into receivership since February 2014, French replicator QOL, first to install Blu-ray disc manufacturing capabilities in Europe back in 2006, has been acquired by Media Industry, owner of kdg France.

The official takeover of QOL's commercial and industrial activities in Vernouillet and Dreux took place on 16 March following the acceptance by the Commercial Court of Chartres of the acquisition proposal put forward by Media Industry three weeks earlier. French industry publication L'Usine Nouvelle reports that the country's largest replicator MPO had expressed some interest in acquiring QOL as well.

In all, 38 of the 77 employees will keep their jobs, and the new owner has committed to maintaining both sites - the manufacturing plant at Vernouillet and the warehouse and logistics plant at Dreux.

Media Industry has been established by François-Xavier Juzdzewski, Director General of kdg France, who is reported to have injected €400,000. "Media Industry will become a major player in the French market for pressing optical discs under the 'kdg France' and 'QOL' trademarks," says Juzdzewski. "We can offer customers of the two structures a complete service, from pressing CDs, DVDs and BDs, printed packaging, to the complete B2B and B2C logistics."

Laurent Villaume, former CEO of QOL, and his team will join the restructured company 'with great enthusiasm,' says the communiqué. The first objective is to ensure continuity of services for clients who were trading with QOL and kdg France. Consolidation in the manufacturing of optical discs in France "is a great message for our business and should infuse our sales force with renewed energy." Villaume told L'Usine Nouvelle that a pressing line for vinyl records will soon be installed at the Vernouillet plant.

The global turnover is estimated to be in the region of €12 million. Details of the new organization of the various structures are yet to be communicated.

Story filed 03.05.15