Seven takeover proposals have been submitted for Lamberet, the French manufacturer of temperature-controlled vehicles and semi-trailers. As of 19 October 2026, the proposals had been filed with the Tribunal des activités économiques de Lyon (Lyon Economic Activities Court), which opened court-supervised restructuring proceedings (redressement judiciaire) at the company's request on 2 July 2026. The court set 24 June 2026 as the date on which the company became unable to meet its payment obligations and granted a six-month observation period. Two court-appointed administrator firms, AJ UP and Fhbx, are assisting the company with its management. Meanwhile, chief executive Stefano Chmielewski, who took up the post in July 2025, has estimated the impact of rising raw material costs at more than €4 million.
Lamberet employs around 1,000 people across its headquarters in Saint-Cyr-sur-Menthon, its plants in Saint-Eusèbe (Saône-et-Loire) and Sarreguemines (Moselle), and its German subsidiary Kerstner. The company is owned by the Chinese group Avic, which, according to French media reports in July, had reported an increase in turnover during the first half of 2026. This is the second time in 20 years that Lamberet has entered restructuring proceedings. The first was in April 2009, when the manufacturer was revived by the Caravelle investment fund. Avic subsequently acquired the business through Xinfei France in 2015.
The group is now going through a difficult period but retains industrial and technological assets that could attract potential investors. The identities of the bidders have not yet been disclosed, nor have the financial terms of their proposals or the differences between their respective recovery plans. According to Lamberet's management, the candidates include several major industrial players. In the meantime, Lamberet says production and deliveries are continuing as normal and employees are maintaining their operational schedules. “Our priority remains unchanged: to continue our activities, serve our customers and contribute to building a sustainable solution for the company and its employees,” Chmielewski said. The court is expected to reach a decision by the end of 2026.
Massimiliano Barberis
