L’Entr’Aide Financière du Tournaisis

Fondaris Facilitates the Sale of Entr’Aide Financière du Tournaisis to Patronale Life

FOndaris  is pleased to announce the successful transfer of Entr’Aide Financière du Tournaisis (EAFT) to Patronale Life.

Based in Roucourt (Péruwelz), Entr’Aide Financière du Tournaisis (EAFT) is a family-owned business operating in the financial sector, specializing in mortgage loans for individuals excluded from the traditional banking system. By offering tailored solutions to borrowers burdened with excessive debt—often as a result of unforeseen personal or professional events—the company helps its clients regain financial stability through flexible, long-term repayment plans. It has thus established itself as a responsible lender of last resort.

After 70 years in business, the founding families—the Bourdons and the Widarts—have decided to pass the torch. Christophe Widart, Director of EAFT: “In our industry, the regulatory environment is becoming increasingly demanding. Faced with growing needs for human and financial resources, the family shareholders have decided to sell the company. They chose Patronale Life, which has a high-performance digital platform capable of reaching a broad network of brokers to distribute our products.”

Patronale Life, a leading Belgian life insurance company, offers a wide range of savings, pension, and investment products. Registered as a mortgage lender under the supervision of the FSMA, the company is also active in providing loans to over-indebted borrowers with limited access to traditional bank credit. This established presence in the same segment as EAFT gives Patronale Life a solid understanding of the market and the specific needs of this clientele. As part of its growth strategy, the group intends to expand its distribution network and strengthen its position in financial services through targeted and complementary acquisitions.

Johan Vanden Berghe, CFO of Patronale Life: “We are pleased to be able to enhance our mortgage offering through the acquisition of EAFT, a recognized regional player. FB Transmission played a decisive role in the success of this transaction by listening to the expectations of all stakeholders and taking into account the complexity of the sector’s regulatory environment.”

Fondaris is an M&A advisory firm specializing in the sale and acquisition of SMEs in Belgium. Its mission is to ensure the long-term continuity of businesses by facilitating coherent and sustainable business transitions. With a particular affinity for family-owned businesses, Fondaris is committed to preserving the legacy and values of each company through personalized and confidential support.

Tanguy della Faille, Partner at Fondaris: “This transaction was not the easiest to carry out, but we were able to fully fulfill our role, both with the family shareholders and in negotiations with the buyer.

I would like to extend my warmest thanks to the EAFT shareholders and the representatives of Patronale Life for the trust they placed in us throughout the sale process.”