The week in business: 2 June

Tourism – Bellewaerde
The theme park in Ypres (pictured), owned by the French Compagnie des Alpes, is to invest €17 million to build a 3,000 square-metre Aquapark attraction, expected to open in 2019.

Spare parts – Carglass
The vehicle repair and replacement group, part of the Brussels-based D’Ieteren car distributor, is to build a 42,000 square-metre distribution centre in Bilzen to supply its affiliates abroad. The facility, to open in 2018, will also include a research and development technical lab. Some 225 jobs will be created on the site.

Floor coverings – Balta
The Wielsbeke-based industrial textiles and floor covering company has launched its IPO to raise €264 million on the Brussels stock market. The sale of shares priced up to €16 each will allow the company’s owner, the American Lone Star group, to cut its stake to 45%. The first quotation day will be 14 June.

Food – Mars
The US-based food group, owner of the Uncle Ben’s brand, is to invest up to €34 million over the next five years to expand its dried rice production unit. The facility, which exports 95% of its 150,000 tons a year capacity, is the company’s largest outside the US.

Metals – Umicore
The Brussels-based non-ferrous metals and materials group is to sell its building products division with seven production units around the world to Fedrus International, a roofing and facade materials producer and distributor with headquarters in Puurs.

Digital – Showpad
The Ghent-based sales enablement platform developer is to take over the UK marketing tech start-up Hickup, which specialises in mobile sales playbook production.    

Photo: Belpark SA