Brussels, Feb. 13, 2026
Iris Group is selling its subsidiary Iris Industry Solutions as part of a management buyout (MBO) backed by Belgian family-owned group Soudal.
This evolution marks a new chapter for Iris, which is transferring its historical activity - industrial painting and surface treatment - and focusing entirely on facility management.
Comme le souligne Patrick Janssens van der Maelen, CEO d'Iris Group,
« le MBO est une solution qui garantit la continuité et préserve notre ancrage familial belge ».
A transition based on continuity
Founded in 1946, Iris is a Belgian family-owned company with nearly 80 years of history. Over the decades, the group (Iris Group) developed two major pillars of activity:
- The industrial coating and surface treatment business (Iris Industry Solutions)
- Facility services (Iris Facility Solutions)
Following the execution of the MBO, Iris Industry Solutions is continuing its development under the leadership of CEO Jeroen Nevelsteen, with the support of the Soudal Group through its family office Jonelinvest.
All stakeholders gain from this operation:
- Iris Industry Solutions accelerates its growth and geographic development in neighboring countries
- Iris Group can fully concentrate on its facility management activities and the development of related services
- All employees develop in continuity, with new dynamics within both entities
- Customers, suppliers and partners enjoy a structured and stable transition
A new impetus from two great Belgian entrepreneurial stories
Soudal is Europe's largest independent manufacturer of mastics, adhesives and PU foams, with more than 4,800 employees and 33 production sites worldwide.
As a 100% Belgian family company, Soudal shares common values with Iris:
- long-term vision
- entrepreneurship
- resilience
- commitment to employees
For 80 years, Iris Industry Solutions has been the market leader in surface treatment and coating in Belgium and employs 300 people in Belgium, the Netherlands and France.
The entry into the capital and the support of Soudal's family office guarantee the Belgian and family anchoring of Iris Industry Solutions. The family values are preserved and the industrial expertise of Soudal offers new development perspectives.
Iris Facility Solutions in turn entered the cleaning market in the 1960s and experienced strong growth from the 1990s onwards. For 80 years Iris Group has succeeded in maintaining a leading position in anti-corrosion while achieving significant diversification in the cleaning and facility management sector.
A new chapter for Iris Industry Solutions
Under the leadership of CEO Jeroen Nevelsteen, Iris Industry Solutions will continue to develop with ambition and responsibility.
The goals are clear:
- ensuring continuity for employees and customers
- preserve the family spirit
- Accelerate the company's growth in its markets
Iris Group: fully focused on facility management
Iris Group now focuses its strategy entirely on its facilities operations.
This step allows the group to:
- strengthen its position in soft facility (cleaning, window washing, green maintenance) and hard facility (technical and multi-technical maintenance)
- further support the development and expertise of its activities
- invest more in innovation and sustainability
- better respond to customers' needs and strengthen quality ambition
A natural evolution in the history of Iris
After nearly 80 years of Belgian entrepreneurship, this transition fits into a clear logic: preserve heritage, ensure continuity and create the conditions for sustainable growth for all stakeholders.
Iris Group thanks all its employees, customers, suppliers, social partners and financial partners for their continued trust and looks forward to continuing to write this new chapter with serenity and ambition.