July 17, 2025 – Paris, France — The French Autorité de la concurrence has given unconditional approval to the joint acquisition of timber-frame construction assets by Hexaom and Trecobat, clearing the way for the two homebuilding groups to jointly acquire POBI Industrie, POBI Structures, and associated assets of the A.S.T. Groupe.
The deal, notified to the Autorité last October, was finalized as part of court-ordered insolvency proceedings and will see Hexaom and Trecobat form a joint venture, Hexabat Invest, to manage the acquired businesses. The transaction includes the production facilities of POBI, as well as the “Natilia” and “Natibox” brands, which specialize in single-family timber-frame homes and modular garden studios.
Following a detailed review, the Autorité concluded that the transaction poses no threat to competition in the timber-frame housing market. Despite overlapping activities in timber-frame production and construction, the watchdog found that Hexaom and Trecobat’s combined market share remains limited, and sufficient competition exists both upstream among timber-frame suppliers and downstream among homebuilders.
The Authority also examined potential risks of coordination between the two parent companies via the new joint venture but found no cause for concern, citing their modest influence in the affected markets.
Timber-frame homes, which use renewable and energy-efficient materials, are increasingly in demand as environmentally sustainable alternatives to traditional housing.
With no remedies or conditions required, the Autorité’s decision clears the path for Hexabat Invest to consolidate operations and potentially scale up timber-frame housing offerings in France.
