Bekaert Fencing to become Betafence

The Belgian Bekaert group of companies hived off Bekaert Fencing N.V. on 1 March for it to be taken over by Gilde, the Netherlands investment group. On 1 May the company with its core business of fencing and access control systems will change its name from Bekaert Fencing to Betafence. The Bekaert group intends to concentrate in future on its metal processing and surface treatment operations.