Ontex Group NV announced the intention to restructure its Belgian production and distribution activities, as part of its strategic transformation to strengthen its competitive position in the European market. This intended restructuring would entail the closure of the Eeklo site, as well as the transformation of the Buggenhout site into a Center of Excellence for research, development and production of medium & heavy incontinence care products, enabled by investments in the range of ?40 million. The intended restructuring would lead to the reduction of 489 employees in Eeklo and Buggenhout, bringing the total workforce in Belgium to 569 positions, spread over the Buggenhout and Aalst sites.

In response to the increasingly competitive personal care market, Ontex is implementing its global transformation plan to strengthen its competitiveness, with a strong focus on customer-centricity, sustainable innovation and organizational and operational cost-efficiency. Since the launch of the transformation plan, numerous initiatives have been implemented, enabling the Group to improve its financial results. These early results provide confidence to pursue the structural transformation to regain and strengthen competitiveness.

The intended optimization of Ontex?s Belgian production and distribution activities is an essential strategic initiative aimed at strengthening Ontex?s operational cost-efficiency across Europe. Consequently, Ontex announced its intention to transform its Belgian operations footprint by exiting the Eeklo site and transforming the Buggenhout site into a center of excellence for medium and heavy incontinence products. The intended closure of the Eeklo site would have an impact on all current 349 production-related employees, and the intended reorganization of the Buggenhout site would impact 140 out of 528 employees.

Today, the works councils in Eeklo and Buggenhout were informed in line with the legal information and consultation procedure. If ? following consultation with the works councils - the intention would be confirmed, the legal procedure would be followed and Ontex would do its utmost best to offer support to all employees involved.

In Belgium, Ontex would continue to employ 569 employees, based in Buggenhout and Aalst.