Belgian company delays IPO over global market turmoil
Belgian company I-care Group is delaying its plans to enter the stock market due to the economic instability caused by US trade tariffs.
The specialist in predictive maintenance for industrial machinery, based in Mons, announced its intention last year to go public in 2025 and raise at least 100 million euros.
In a press release on Thursday morning, the company blamed “geopolitical and global economic instability” for the decision to delay its IPO.
“I am a big Formula 1 fan,” said co-founder and CEO Fabrice Brion. “The best driver with the best car doesn’t take the start in atrocious weather conditions. This is a bit like that today: you could at least say that the macro-economic conditions are unstable.”
I-care Group has more than 850 employees – expected to grow to 1,000 this year – with 36 offices in 16 countries in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the US and clients in 55 countries.
Meanwhile, the sharp drop in share prices over the past week has encouraged private investors in Belgium to take their first steps on the stock exchange, L’Echo reports, based on a survey of investment platforms.
"You could at least say that the macro-economic conditions are unstable"
“If we compare the number of stock market transactions during this period with our daily average for 2025, we see a clear increase,” said Roel Vermeire, spokesperson for Keytrade Bank.
The bank registered 60 per cent more transactions than usual on 3 April, 128 per cent more on 4 April and 129 per cent more on 7 April. The same trends were noted elsewhere, L’Echo reports.
Belgian investors preferred to buy on the Brussels stock exchange, with Melexis, Syensqo, Umicore and Sofina among the most popular shares on the European markets.
European stocks shot up sharply on Thursday morning after US president Donald Trump announced that most import duties would be paused for 90 days. The Bel20 climbed 7.5 per cent within 15 minutes of opening.
I-Care CEO Fabrice Brion at the ceremony for the Entreprise de l’annee award in 2020 © BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM
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