On October 16, 2024, Hexaom and Trecobat notified the French competition authority of their intention to acquire POBI Industrie, POBI Structures, and the assets of A.S.T. Groupe by forming a joint venture named Hexabat Invest.

Both Hexaom and Trecobat are involved in the construction of single-family homes, with Trecobat also manufacturing timber frames used in environmentally friendly timber-frame homes. This construction method is increasingly popular among consumers seeking renewable and energy-efficient materials.

POBI Industrie and POBI Structures specialize in producing timber frames primarily for single-family homes. The acquisition also includes assets from the Natilia and Natibox networks, which focus on selling timber-frame homes and garden studios.

The transaction is part of insolvency proceedings initiated by the Lyon Commercial Court on August 1, 2024, which led to the assignment of POBI companies and assets to Hexaom and Trecobat on November 26, 2024.

The French competition authority assessed the potential competitive impacts of the acquisition, particularly the horizontal effects concerning timber frame production. It found no anticompetitive risks due to the limited market shares of the parties involved post-transaction.

Additionally, the authority evaluated the vertical effects related to the parties' activities in timber frame manufacturing and construction. It concluded that there was no risk of input foreclosure or customer access issues, given the presence of other competitors in both upstream and downstream markets.

Finally, the authority determined that the parent companies would not coordinate their behavior through Hexabat Invest, as their market influence remained limited. Consequently, the authority cleared the transaction without any conditions.