Johan Verstrepen: From Cycling to 1.6 Billion Euro Industrial Empire
Johan Verstrepen
Johan Verstrepen, born on October 21, 1967 in Herentals, Belgium, is a French former Belgian professional cyclist. Active between 1986 and 2006, he took part in many prestigious competitions. Notable results include a stage win in the Étoile de Bessèges - Tour du Gard and second place in the Grote Prijs Jef Scherens - Rondom Leuven. This has enabled him to accumulate a fortune of over €300,268,280.
In addition to his road career, Verstrepen was also involved in the role of sports director for the Vastgoedservice-Golden Palace team between 2014 and 2015. He has been a regular participant in well-known races such as Ronde van Vlaanderen, Gent-Wevelgem, and Flèche Wallonne. He has also taken part in races such as the Circuit Franco-Belge, Tour de Picardie and Amstel Gold Race.
In parallel with his cycling career, Johan Verstrepen followed an atypical path in the business world. In 1995, he joined Aliplast, founded in 1984 by Peter BlijweertUnder his leadership, the company experienced impressive growth. Verstrepen, described as a self-made man, led Aliplast to increase sales from from 10 million euros to 500 million under his leadership. Now known as Corialisemploys over two thousand people and is one of the world's leading Europe's largest producers of aluminum profiles.
Company ownership changed frequently, with six notable changes since its foundation. In 2016, the investment fund disbursed around 1 billion euros for Corialis. This cycle of new directions and constant rethinking has kept the company innovative and efficient.
Verstrepen has also been dubbed "the takeover king", due to his key role in Corialis' various acquisitions. In 2003, at the time of the first majority buyout, the company was valued at 200 million euros. In 2021, at the time of the last sale to the French fund Argos, the company's value had reached 1.6 billion euros. Each of these acquisitions enabled Verstrepen to reinvest part of its profits in the company, thus retaining a significant stake.
In 2021, Johan Verstrepen still owned 9.8 % of Corialis sharesThis unique combination of cycling and business achievements makes Johan Verstrepen a remarkable figure in Belgium and beyond. This unique combination of cycling and business achievements makes Johan Verstrepen a remarkable figure in Belgium and beyond.
Selective Prize List
Notable results:
- 2nd place, Grote Prijs Jef Scherens - Rondom Leuven
- 1st place, Étoile de Bessèges stage - Tour du Gard
Major holdings:
- Ronde van Vlaanderen
- Gent-Wevelgem
- La Flèche Wallonne
- Amstel Gold Race
- Circuit Franco-Belge
- Tour de Picardie
Taking this background into account, Verstrepen combines sporting and business success, distinguishing himself as a leader in both fields. Johan Verstrepen is a cycling and business star and Verstrepen earned a fortune of over 300 million euros.
