YouBuild has found buyers for 11 of its 19 Belgian outlets, raising €6.5 million—but still faces nearly €40 million in debt.
The Brussels Commercial Court on Friday approved the sale under judicial authority of 11 YouBuild locations after the building‑materials wholesaler’s parent, BMC Benelux, entered administration in April. Losses from a downturn in construction and rising costs left YouBuild with a negative cash balance of €27,000 and no available liquidity.
A consortium of four family‑owned distributors—Van den Braembussche (Eeklo), Van Hulle Bouwservice (Tielt), Vinckier (Diksmuide) and Lo.Ve.Mat (Seraing)—acquired seven sites for €2.8 million, to be divided among them. Former MP Kathleen Verhelst’s Verhelst Bouwmaterialen won the bid for three additional branches, while the two Brussels outlets also found purchasers.
Two other locations will be repurposed: entrepreneur Mark Roussel will relaunch sustainable brick production at Menen, and Firma Beel will convert the Wortegem‑Petegem site for agricultural machinery. Approximately half of YouBuild’s 218 remaining employees are expected to retain their jobs.
Despite initial interest from 12 parties—including one bidder for all 19 stores—the €6.5 million proceeds fall far short of BMC Benelux’s nearly €40 million debt load (including €16.7 million to suppliers and €8.5 million to owner Aurelius). A formal bankruptcy declaration is imminent, exposing a substantial financial hole for creditors.
