ALIAXIS IS ‘ONDERNEMING VAN HET JAAR®’ 2022                       FEops WINS THE ‘PRIJS VAN DE VLAAMSE REGERING VOOR DE SCALE-UP VAN HET JAAR’ 2022

ALIAXIS IS ‘ONDERNEMING VAN HET JAAR®’ 2022 FEops WINS THE ‘PRIJS VAN DE VLAAMSE REGERING VOOR DE SCALE-UP VAN HET JAAR’ 2022

Brussels, 6 December 2022. Aliaxis from Brussels was crowned ‘Onderneming van het Jaar®’ 2022 this evening. CEO Eric Olsen received the prestigious award from Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Vincent Van Quickenborne at the 28th edition of the award, organised by EY in collaboration with De Tijd and BNP Paribas Fortis. A professional jury, made up of leading representatives from the Belgian business and academic worlds, chose Aliaxis ahead of the other finalists Agristo, Galloo and Vandewiele. Aliaxis succeeds Aertssen Group, last year’s winner.

The ‘Prijs van de Vlaamse Regering voor de Scale-up van het Jaar’ 2022 was also presented during this ceremony. This award is given to Flemish growth companies which have performed impressively during the past year. This year, the honour fell to FEops from Ghent. FEops beat Equine Care Group and Silverfin to receive the award from Jo Brouns, the Flemish Minister of the Economy, Innovation, Work, Social Economy and Agriculture. As the 17th winner of the prestigious title, the company follows in the footsteps of Deliverect, the 2021 winner, also from Ghent.

An award for Belgian companies of distinction

EY has run the ‘Onderneming van het Jaar®’ award since 1995. For 28 years, the award has highlighted Belgian companies that stand out thanks to their innovative approach, bold international vision, strategy, healthy financial position, dedicated teamwork, good governance, ambition and determination to pursue further growth.

During this edition of the ‘Onderneming van het Jaar®’, Minister of Justice Vincent Van Quickenborne presented the trophy to Eric Olsen, CEO of Aliaxis.

Michèle Sioen, president of the jury, explains why Aliaxis was chosen: “Aliaxis is a unique, entrepreneurial adventure. As a family business, it attaches great importance at all times to a long-term vision, sound strategy and disciplined financial governance. The profitability is managed outstandingly even in a volatile environment, which demonstrates the resilience and robustness of the business model as well as the capacity and flexibility to adapt to constantly changing and highly challenging market conditions. They consistently make a strong contribution in their activities to the sustainability agenda, by focusing on the recycling challenge and the transition to renewable electricity. Aliaxis’ sustainable, easy-to-install and innovative solutions address the world’s global water challenges and accelerate the transition to sustainable energy.”

Patrick Rottiers, CEO of EY Belgium, adds: “We are proud that we have been able to continue with this edition of ‘Onderneming van het Jaar®’ to provide businesses – and their employees – with the platform they deserve. All the finalists contribute to prosperity and well-being in our country. Aliaxis is a family business that has grown into a world leader that we can all be proud of, and is the personification of all the qualities a company needs to have in order to be crowned ‘Onderneming van het Jaar®’.”

Rudi Braes, Vice Chair EY EMIA, responds: “Since the launch of this prestigious award, we have aimed to support and encourage companies with a strong growth potential. Agristo, Aliaxis, Galloo and Vandewiele are all inspiring success stories that our country can be proud of. Aliaxis joins an impressive list of previous winners of ‘Onderneming van het Jaar®’. The family-run company is the market leader in more than 40 countries through local brands, and achieved a turnover of €3.7 billion in 2021 with its 15,000 employees.”

FEops chosen as ‘Scale-up van het Jaar’

During the award ceremony held for ‘Onderneming van het Jaar®’ 2022, the ‘Prijs van de Vlaamse Regering voor de Scale-up van het Jaar’ 2022 was also presented. This year, FEops from Ghent was chosen as the winner by the jury, succeeding Deliverect, the 2021 winner.

The ‘Scale-up van het Jaar’ award is a prestigious prize, given by the Flemish Government to reward fast-growing, strongly developing companies for their efforts and motivate them for the future. The jury chooses the candidate which it believes could one day be a winner of ‘Onderneming van het Jaar®.

“FEops’ inspirational story of the founder’s strong passion, vision and tenacity makes this company from Ghent a worthy winner of the ‘Prijs van de Vlaamse Regering voor de Scale-up van het Jaar’. With its technological breakthrough in a cardio-medical niche market, FEops has tapped into a global growth potential. Its technology is already approved in many regions, including EU, UK, USA, Canada and Australia. As a result, FEops has received a great deal of medical validation in the most important markets. It has put Flanders on the map of precision healthcare of fast-growing relevance,” Hans Crijns, Professor of the Vlerick Business School and chairman of the jury, explained the choice of FEops.

“The ‘Prijs van de Vlaamse Regering voor de Scale-up van het Jaar’ is awarded to companies which have the potential to become ‘Onderneming van het Jaar®’ someday. FEops has enormous growth potential thanks to its highly complementary team of medtech specialists as well as financiers and experienced managers. In addition, FEops can achieve scalability because it has teamed up with renowned global players and has an intelligent SAAS revenue model. If the company continues to develop in the same way in future, it could be a favourite to earn the title ‘Onderneming van het Jaar®’,” commented Stefan Olivier, partner at EY Belgium.


 

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