The Van Malderen Dynasty: From Ontex to a €950 million Industrial Empire
The van Malderen family
The story of the Van Malderen family and its companies is a remarkable one. It's a Paul Van Malderen who initiated this entrepreneurial saga by setting up a medical goods production unit in his native Buggenhout. His ability to innovate led him to develop a machine for making mattress protectors. hospital in his own garage in 1979, thus marking the launch of Ontex. The van Malderen family has reached a fortune of over 950 million euros, close to the billion mark.
Bart Van Malderen, having taken over as CEO, has propelled Ontex to the top of the rankings. European leader as a producer of diapers and sanitary towels for private labels. Initial public offering in 1998 was followed by a takeover by the Candover investment fund, for 1.1 billion in 2002.
However, faced with substantial debts and competitive pressures, Ontex had to reorganize in 2007. Bart Van Malderen, never losing sight of his ambitions, has founded Drylock in 2011, and then expanded internationally, targeting Europe, Russia and the United States. Drylock has established itself as an influential player in the production of diapers, with a value-added estimated at 600 million euros in 2019 suite to the Boël family's investment.
In addition to the hygiene products sector, Bart has also made a name for itself in semi-industrial real estate. with VGP, developing the company in Eastern Europe as well as in Germany and Spain.
The V Malderen family is not confined to the consumer goods industry. Griet Van Malderen, Bart's sister, turned to viticulture in the Saint-Émilion region, producing the renowned Château de Lussac wine until the sale of her three French châteaux in 2018.
| Families involved | Sectors of activity | Companies founded and developed | Geographic expansion | Recent appraisals and investments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Van Malderen | Medical products, Hygiene, Wine | Ontex, Drylock, Château de Lussac | Europe, Russia, United States | Drylock valued at 600 million euros in 2019 |
| Business partners | Semi-industrial real estate | VGP | Eastern Europe | 150 million investment by Sofina |
Prudence and innovation have guided the Van Malderen family, enabling them to navigate a wide variety of sectors, from local production to international expansion. They continue to make their economic mark in Belgium and beyond. Bart led the family into the exclusive club of Belgian billionaires with over 1 billion.
