EPC Groupe and Société Suisse des Explosifs said on 24 February 2026 that they had entered exclusive negotiations to combine their civil explosives and drilling-and-blasting businesses, with SSE taking a stake of nearly 25% in the Paris-listed group.
Why EPC Groupe is buying SSE Group civil explosives and drilling & blasting businesses
The companies said their footprints were highly complementary: SSE holds first or second positions in Switzerland, Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Romania, where EPC is not present. They aimed to become the European market leader and, through organic growth and acquisitions, to reach the global top five in civil explosives.
Deal terms and financing
SSE would have contributed all its civil explosives and drilling-and-blasting activities to EPC SA for 725,000 new EPC shares, and sold 75,000 EPC shares to 4 Décembre SAS at €225 a share, according to Zonebourse. SSE would have gained a board seat. Its fine chemicals unit, Valsynthèse, was to stay outside the deal.
Regulatory approvals and timing
The deal was subject to due diligence, works council consultation, regulatory approvals and shareholder votes, with completion targeted for the third quarter of 2026. EPC said on 2 June 2026 that negotiations had ended on 1 June: cross due diligence confirmed both groups' financial strength, but SSE's changing demands on post-deal governance led to the break.
Market context
SSE, founded more than 125 years ago, generates about CHF135m of revenue in central Europe, with drilling and blasting services accounting for over 40% of the contributed perimeter, according to Zonebourse.
