West Flanders Brothers Build a Health Conglomerate with New Acquisition
West Flanders Brothers Build a Health Conglomerate with New Acquisition
Declerck brothers acquire Trenker Laboratories as part of healthcare growth strategy
Brothers Louis (34) and Charles (28) Declerck have completed their second acquisition through their joint company Erudite.Health, taking over Trenker Laboratories—a Nivelles-based developer and manufacturer of food supplements. Trenker generates €28 million in revenue and employs around 90 people.
The acquisition marks a significant step in the Declerck brothers’ ambition to build Erudite.Health into a comprehensive healthcare group combining supplements, an AI platform, and eventually, their own pharmaceuticals.
Founded 18 months ago, Erudite.Health is financed through a mix of bank debt and family capital. The financial foundation stems from the sale of their father’s clinical laboratory to an Australian group roughly a decade ago. “That sale enabled us to build our own story,” says Charles. “This new acquisition is a major leap in that journey.”
Trenker’s bestsellers and vision
Trenker’s flagship product is Alline, a keratin-based supplement that addresses hair loss. Other leading products include Imutis (for gastrointestinal complaints) and Mobilityl, a turmeric-based supplement for joint health.
Mobilityl illustrates the path the Declerck brothers want to pursue: combining traditional medicine with personalized self-care products and supplements. “We want to offer scientifically backed, non-prescription alternatives tailored to individual patients—starting with rheumatology, but eventually covering a wide range of conditions,” says Louis.
Trenker already has strong market presence in Belgium and the Netherlands. Erudite.Health now aims to accelerate growth in other markets, with sales primarily driven through doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies.
Strategic acquisitions and AI development
Prior to acquiring Trenker, the brothers bought Nutriphyt, a smaller producer of plant-based supplements with €6 million in annual revenue. Both acquired businesses are profitable and cash-generative.
Erudite.Health is also developing an AI-driven platform to provide personalized health recommendations. A pilot focused on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is expected to launch soon, with a broader rollout planned in about a year. In the long term, the company intends to fund its own drug development with the cash flows from its supplement business. “That’s a longer-term goal—perhaps within five years,” says Louis.
Deal advised by Merodis
The acquisition was advised by M&A specialist Merodis. Legal counsel was provided by Baker McKenzie, Stibbe, and De Groote-De Man.
Source: De Tijd, Jan De Schamphelaere, 1/07/2024, This is an automatically generated translation of the original article, Link to original article.