The company Hailaust et Gutzeit was founded by Louis Hailaust in 1857 and aims to import wood from Northern Europe (Sweden, Finland, Poland, USSR), North America (Canada) and occasionally from Europe. Central (Romania).

The main group companies are in the order of their creation:

- The Hailaust et Gutzeit Company (created under the name of Hailaust et Cie)
- The Nantes Import Company in Morocco (and the NAIB)
- The Nantes Company of Unrolled Wood and Ocean Plywood
- The Société Centrale des Bois (now the Société Centrale des Bois et des Scieries de la Manche).