Tag Archives: Industrie

Ampersand Capital Partners Invests in Syft Technologies, Leading SIFT-MS Solutions Provider

Wellesley, MA, 18 April, 2022 – Ampersand Capital Partners, a private equity firm specializing in growth equity investments in the life sciences and healthcare sectors, today announced a minority investment in Syft Technologies Limited, a world leading provider of Mass Spectrometry (SIFT-MS) solutions. Ampersand’s investment will allow Syft to accelerate their progress in the semiconductor market and develop the next scalable opportunity in life sciences.

Canterbury, New Zealand-based Syft develops SIFT-MS, a form of direct mass spectrometry that analyses volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in air with typical detection limits at parts-per-trillion level (by volume; pptv). Realtime, quantitative analysis is achieved by applying precisely controlled soft chemical ionization and eliminating sample preparation, pre-concentration and chromatography. Syft’s SIFT-MS instrumentation is industry-proven, providing non-technical operators with laboratory-grade chemical analysis presented in a format that they can understand and act on.

Alex Fala, CEO of Syft, comments “We are excited to partner with Ampersand and benefit from the firm’s expertise and networks as we continue to build on Syft’s momentum and develop our next scalable opportunity in life sciences.”

David Patteson, Partner at Ampersand, shared “Syft has a remarkable technology and product platform, with notable traction in semiconductor and adjacent segments. Their life science market pull, applications, and commercial expertise, combined with Ampersand’s investments, should allow for meaningful penetration and adoption rates. We are thrilled to partner with their executive team, board, and shareholders to help realize the full potential.”

As part of the investment, Syft will also welcome David Patteson to the Board. David leads Ampersand’s Portfolio Acceleration team, and currently serves as Chairman of US headquartered Alliance Pharma. He has over 30 years of experience in Board and CEO roles, scaling businesses built on mass spectrometry, and other analytical instrumentation technologies.

About Syft Technologies Limited

Syft is a world leading provider of Selected Ion Flow Tube Mass Spectrometry (SIFT-MS) solutions. Revolutionizing the trace analysis world, Syft’s instruments enable the rapid, targeted and comprehensive analysis of compounds in air to a parts-per-trillion level. Syft’s technology is used in industries including semiconductor, energy, life sciences, environmental, consumer products, laboratory and research, security and air quality monitoring. Based in Christchurch, Syft trades on New Zealand’s Unlisted Securities Exchange (USX: SYF). Further information is available at syft.com.

About Ampersand Capital Partners

Founded in 1988, Ampersand is a middle market private equity firm with more than $2 billion of assets under management dedicated to growth-oriented investments in the healthcare sector.  With offices in Boston and Amsterdam, Ampersand leverages its unique blend of private equity and operating experience to build value and drive superior long-term performance alongside its portfolio company management teams. Ampersand has helped build numerous market-leading companies across each of the firm’s core healthcare sectors.  Additional information about Ampersand is available at ampersandcapital.com.

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CVC Fund VIII to acquire the Neolith Group, the global leader in sintered stone surfaces

The company is pioneer in the creation of sintered stone and a global leader with business in over 100 countries

CVC Capital Partners VIII, a global private equity platform, has agreed to invest in the Neolith Group, the global leader in the sintered stone industry, that has been controlled by Investindustrial and its founders, the Esteve Family, until now.

Neolith, pioneer in the creation of sintered stone and a global leader with business in over 100 countries, leads the ongoing process of transformation in the stone surfaces industry with innovative and sustainable solutions that combine design and functionality for a wide range of applications; from kitchens, bathrooms and designer furniture to building façades and coverings for the most cutting-edge architecture projects.

Neolith’s strong organic growth and profitability in recent years alongside a unique market position were key factors in the acquisition. Jose Luis Ramón, CEO of Neolith Group said: “It is a privilege to welcome CVC into the great Neolith project and its arrival will no doubt represent a new turning point in the group’s history, accelerating our ambitious strategic objectives. Its extensive experience and global presence will be a great help to us in developing our enormous potential”. He went on to add: “We are grateful for the confidence and constant support of Investindustrial and the Esteve Family in making Neolith a unique platform that has enabled us to consistently expand the business with a firm commitment based on innovation, branding, sustainability and a straightforward approach based on open collaboration.”

Javier de Jaime, Managing Partner at CVC, said: “We are thrilled to have materialised this investment in Neolith so we can continue leading this industry together and undertake the next stage of the investment, which will allow the company to continue accelerating its international expansion and multiply its growth behind the unique value proposition and position it enjoys in the market. CVC funds invest in companies with outstanding track records that are leaders in their respective industries. Neolith symbolises what we look for in any investment: a growing global market, a unique business model and a multi-disciplinary team that is highly skilled, motivated and international. Our vision is to multiply value in the long term and help the company to unleash its full potential, behind sustainable growth, by committing to technology, research and development of advanced materials, design and branding.”

In turn and on behalf of the current investors, Andrea C. Bonomi, the Chairman of the Industrial Advisory Board of Investindustrial, which became a majority shareholder in 2019, said: “We identified the sintered stone sector as the fastest growing niche within high-end design surfaces solutions, due to its strong technical and sustainable features. Within the sector, Neolith is a global leader based on a strong culture of quality and R&D built by the founding Esteve family, and carried on by the excellent management team in place.”

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3i announces the sale of QSR to Datwyler for $625m

3I

3i Group plc (“3i”) today announces that it has agreed to the sale of Q Holding’s QSR division, a leading developer and manufacturer of electrical connector seals, to Datwyler, a leading provider of high-quality, system-critical elastomeric components.

Proceeds from the sale of QSR will be used to retire the Q loan facility and return substantial capital to 3i and other investors. Following the transaction, Q Holding will consist of the current Q Medical Devices business, a leader in the production of outsourced medical devices for the cardiovascular and endosurgical markets, as well as critical silicone and other elastomeric components for the medical device and pharmaceutical markets.

Headquartered in Ohio, United States, with operations in North America and Asia, QSR’s sealing technologies offer world class and mission-critical solutions designed to safeguard electrical connections in the harshest environments such as mobility, industrial and aerospace settings. QSR’s products support a greener, safer and more connected world and are widely adopted in electric vehicles, autonomous driving applications and connectivity applications. QSR has unmatched material science, tooling, product engineering and process technology, and a history dating back to 1966.

3i invested in QSR parent Q Holding in 2014 and during its ownership has invested significantly to build and expand QSR’s manufacturing footprint in Mexico and China, grow QSR’s capabilities serving fast-growing markets such as high voltage EV applications, and support deployment of best-in-class manufacturing solutions to deliver the highest quality products to QSR’s customers.

Rich Relyea, Partner, 3i, commented: “QSR’s offering and expertise are unmatched and we are proud to have supported the tremendous QSR leadership team in executing its strategy. The Company has achieved significant growth globally, has provided its industry-leading customers with advanced solutions for exciting markets such as the electric and hybrid-electric vehicle industry, and has created a pathway for continued future growth for its new owner. We are simultaneously excited to continue our partnership with Mauricio and the rest of the Q team in expanding Q Medical’s world-class offerings to the high-growth global medical device industry.”

Mauricio Arellano, CEO, Q Holding, added: “We are incredibly proud of the business we have built and the quality of the team we have assembled to serve our customers. We are confident QSR’s team, capabilities and expertise will be a strong fit with Datwyler and we are looking forward to taking the next step in Q’s development with our partners at 3i.”

The transaction is expected to complete in Q2 2022, subject to customary antitrust approvals.

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Elkem, Hydro and Altor partner to accelerate growth of Vianode, producer of sustainable battery materials

Altor

Elkem, Hydro and Altor (Altor Fund V) today announced a partnership with the intention to accelerate the growth of Vianode, a producer of sustainable battery materials. An investment decision for a potential first-phase plant at Herøya, Norway, is expected in the first half of 2022.

Vianode has developed a range of synthetic graphite products for batteries with unique performance characteristics and produced with significantly lower CO2 emissions than today’s standard materials – supporting the ambitions of leading battery cell and automotive manufacturers. Today, an electric vehicle (EV) contains on average 40-70 kg of graphite, representing a vital component of the battery. Vianode’s products are developed based on specialized know-how in high-temperature processes, closed production systems, lower energy consumption and access to renewable energy.

Founded in 2021, Vianode currently has around 50 employees. The company builds on Elkem’s experience in advanced material solutions, its in-house research and development resources, as well as the strong performance of Vianode’s industrial pilot plant in Kristiansand, Norway. After this transaction, Hydro and Altor will each have 30% ownership in Vianode, while Elkem will retain the remaining 40% ownership.

“I would like to congratulate the parties on a very exciting industrial collaboration! The Norwegian Government has great ambitions for a green industrial boost where batteries are one of six focus areas. The purpose is to create new, green jobs, increase mainland investment, increase exports outside oil and gas and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These are the kind of projects and partnerships we want more of when we now will go through the biggest restructuring of the Norwegian economy ever,” says Norwegian Minister of Trade and Industry, Jan Christian Vestre.

An investment decision for a potential first-phase plant for Vianode is expected during the first half of 2022. This plant will have approximately 100 employees and produce graphite for more than 20,000 EVs per year. A potential full-scale plant will produce graphite for more than 1 million EVs per year and is expected to increase the number of employees in Vianode to around 300, enabling more than 1,000 green jobs including external effects.

The total investments in the first-phase plant and preparations for a potential full-scale plant are estimated at around NOK 2 billion. The plant development is pending clarifications related to framework conditions, including public support mechanisms and long-term access to competitive renewable energy and grid infrastructure.

“The market for battery materials is growing at an exponential rate and developing sustainable value chains is critical for the green transformation. Vianode aims to become a leading producer of sustainable battery materials, and this represents an attractive growth opportunity for Elkem. Hydro and Altor both add significant experience and expertise in developing large-scale industrial projects in the battery value chain. Through complementary skillsets, the partnership with Hydro and Altor will contribute to making Vianode a highly valuable contribution to the European battery value chain,” says Elkem CEO Helge Aasen.

“We are excited to partner up with Elkem and Altor to industrialize Vianode. We look forward to utilizing our industry scaling capabilities including project execution for large industrial projects, our material and process competence and experience as well as our track record from serving the car OEM segments for decades. Vianode is a good fit for our strategic direction of growing in renewable energy and new-energy solutions,” says Hilde Merete Aasheim, Hydro President & CEO.

“We are thrilled to partner with Elkem and Hydro on this very exciting opportunity. Vianode is perfectly positioned to shape the future of the automotive industry and will be an important contributor to the green transition and a carbon neutral future. We have experience from partnerships in other green transition projects where entire industries are being reshaped, and with Vianode we will build a new green EV supply chain in Europe. We are very impressed by the work Elkem has done with Vianode, and we think it will be a very exciting partnership with both Elkem and Hydro,” says Tom Jovik, Principal at Altor.

The transaction is subject to formal approval by all parties and regulatory approvals, including competition authorities.

Press meeting
Elkem CEO Helge Aasen, Hydro CEO Hilde Merete Aasheim and Altor principal Tom Jovik will together present the partnership and be available for questions in a press meeting today at 10:00-10:45 at Vækerø Hovedgård (Drammensveien 256, 0277 Oslo, Norway). Please sign up in advance via Maria Melfald Tveten (Maria.Tveten@hydro.com).

For further information, please contact:
Tor Krusell, head of Communcation Altor: +46705438747

About Vianode
Vianode, founded in 2021, is a producer of sustainable battery materials. The company is built upon technological advancements and experience developed over several years. Vianode’s range of synthetic graphite products offers unique performance characteristics and are produced with significantly lower CO2 emissions than today’s standard materials – supporting the ambitions of leading battery cell and automotive manufacturers. An investment decision for a potential first-phase battery materials plant at Herøya, Norway, is expected in the first half of 2022. Vianode is backed by Elkem (40%), Hydro (30%) and Altor (30%). www.vianode.com

About Altor
Since its inception, the family of Altor funds has raised some EUR 8.3 billion in total commitments. The funds have invested in excess of EUR 5 billion in more than 75 companies. The investments have been made in medium-sized predominantly Nordic companies with the aim to create value through growth initiatives and operational improvements. Among current and past investments are H2 Green Steel, OX2 and Helly Hansen. For more information visit www.altor.com

About Elkem
Elkem is one of the world’s leading providers of advanced material solutions shaping a better and more sustainable future. The company develops silicones, silicon products and carbon solutions by combining natural raw materials, renewable energy and human ingenuity. Elkem helps its customers create and improve essential innovations like electric mobility, digital communications, health and personal care as well as smarter and more sustainable cities. With a strong track record since 1904, its global team of more than 7,000 people has a joint commitment to stakeholders: Delivering your potential. In 2021, Elkem obtained a Platinum score from EcoVadis, which rated the company among the world’s top 1% on sustainability transparency, and the company achieved an operating income of NOK 33.7 billion. Elkem is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (ticker: ELK). www.elkem.com

About Hydro
Hydro is a leading industrial company that builds businesses and partnerships for a more sustainable future. We develop industries that matter to people and society. Since 1905, Hydro has turned natural resources into valuable products for people and businesses, creating a safe and secure workplace for our 31,000 employees in more than 140 locations and 40 countries. Today, we own and operate various businesses and have investments with a base in sustainable industries. Hydro is through its businesses present in a broad range of market segments for aluminium, energy, metal recycling, renewables and batteries, offering a unique wealth of knowledge and competence. Hydro is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (ticker: NHY). www.hydro.com

Author: Katarina Karlsson
Date: 2022.04.06
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Audax Private Equity Announces Strategic Investment in Flow Control Holdings

Audax Group

Audax Private Equity (“Audax”) today announced it has completed a strategic growth investment in Flow Control Holdings (“FCH” or the “Company”), a premier provider of sanitary flow components to producers of foods, beverages and pharmaceuticals. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Phil Pejovich, CEO of FCH, will continue to lead the Company alongside the existing management team.

Based in Chicago, FCH specializes in providing highly engineered sanitary and high purity flow components (e.g. fittings, valves, hoses, pumps, and other components) for market-critical applications within the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries around the world. The Company’s brands and products, including Steel & O’Brien and Ace Sanitary, encompass a broad assortment of highly engineered sanitary and high purity flow control components and services.

Mr. Pejovich said, “We are thrilled to have the backing of an experienced partner like Audax. With their support, we will be well-positioned to continue to expand our best-in-class portfolio of highly engineered flow control solutions to better serve our customers, suppliers, and employees.”

“We are excited to work with Phil and the management team at FCH. Under their leadership, the Company has differentiated itself in a large and highly fragmented market by establishing a broad portfolio of comprehensive solutions,” said Ryan Bruehlmann, Managing Director at Audax Private Equity. “We look forward to leveraging our prior experience to drive growth both organically and through strategic M&A.”

Don Bramley, Managing Director at Audax Private Equity, added, “FCH has built a solid business that is underpinned by a strong, dedicated sales team and a growing customer base. The Company is well-positioned to continue its strong momentum with our support.”

Baird served as financial advisor to Audax and KPMG served as financial advisor to FCH. Ropes & Gray served as legal counsel to Audax and Dentons LLP served as legal counsel to FCH.

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CVC and Greenbriar announce recapitalisation of Radwell International

CVC Capital Partners

CVC and Greenbriar to support continued rapid growth and expansion

CVC Capital Partners VIII (“CVC Fund VIII”), has invested in Radwell International, LLC (“Radwell” or the “Company”), a global distributor of new and surplus industrial automation components. CVC Fund VIII is acquiring an interest in the Company from founder & CEO Brian Radwell and Greenbriar Equity Group, L.P. (“Greenbriar”), both of whom will remain significant shareholders going forward. Financial terms of the private transaction were not disclosed.

Founded in 1979, Radwell is a leading specialty distribution and light manufacturing business that provides new and refurbished industrial automation components for the repair and maintenance of production and processing equipment on plant floors. The Company focuses on the aftermarket for mission-critical components and is dedicated to keeping customers’ facilities operating efficiently. Headquartered in Willingboro, NJ, the company operates nine facilities in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Germany.

The investment from CVC Fund VIII will support Brian Radwell and the management team in executing against their multi-year expansion program focused on domestic and international growth as well as selective M&A opportunities across the business’s geographies and product sets.

Brian Radwell, President and CEO of Radwell, commented, “We have truly enjoyed working with Niall McComiskey and the Greenbriar team and are thrilled that they have reinvested in Radwell. Our partnership with Greenbriar enabled Radwell to significantly accelerate growth and innovation which allowed us to scale rapidly. We are also very excited to bring on CVC as a new partner, whose global resources and experience building businesses will enable us to pursue new avenues of growth in the US and worldwide. CVC’s values are fully aligned with our business and I am confident that we have chosen the perfect partner for the next stage of our development.”

James Christopoulos, Senior Managing Director at CVC, said, “Radwell is a fantastic business which has evolved into a leader, well-known for providing its customers with a unique and critical service. We value its employee-centric culture focused on continuous improvement and are delighted to partner with Brian and his excellent team. We look forward to supporting the next stage of Radwell’s growth domestically, internationally and through strategic acquisitions.”

Niall McComiskey, Managing Partner at Greenbriar, said, “Radwell is an incredibly special business and we are honoured to have supported Brian and the Radwell team as their first institutional partner. The Radwell team has built a market-leading automation MRO platform that is underpinned by unparalleled proprietary data and a passionate team with deep technical expertise. We are proud of our partnership with the management team, and we are excited to support the next chapter of growth alongside Radwell and CVC.”

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Altor acquires a significant minority stake in Svea Solar – continuing its growth in climate transition investments

Altor

Altor Fund V (“Altor”) has signed an agreement to acquire a significant minority stake in Svea Solar and enter into a partnership with the founders and management to support the continued growth of the company. The founders Erik Martinson and Björn Lind will continue in their roles as CEO and Head of Operations and remain major shareholders of the company.

Founded in 2013, Svea Solar is the #1 integrated solar solutions & service provider in Sweden and #3 in Europe with revenues above SEK 1bn (2021). The company serves more than 20 000 customers primarily focusing on the residential segment, but also through selected corporate partnerships. Starting out in Sweden, Svea Solar entered Spain in 2019, and further expanded into Germany and Benelux in 2020. The headquarters are located in Stockholm and the company currently employs ~700 people.

As part of the transaction, Altor is injecting significant growth capital into the company, to support the accelerated geographical expansion as well as launch of a fully integrated residential solar offering in the near term. In addition, Altor is acquiring all outstanding shares from current shareholder Axsol AB. In total, this makes Altor the lead investor in Svea Solar.

“It is more important than ever to quickly scale up Europe’s access to clean energy, not only for the sake of the climate, but also to ensure that Europe becomes self-sufficient on energy. This enormous contribution from an experienced and engaged investor like Altor will enable us to further contribute to a more sustainable, resilient, and independent energy system. For us it was vital that Altor shared our vision of a future without fossil fuels, where we help people to become self-sufficient on clean energy as quickly as possible. We really look forward to start working closely with a world class investor like Altor,” says Svea Solar’s CEO and co-founder Erik Martinson.

“The investment builds on Altor’s investment track-record in green transition businesses and is a testament to our strong conviction in solar as a critical component for European energy supply and balance. Svea Solar has quickly become the leading residential solar company in Sweden, with established positions in Spain, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. Svea Solar’s innovative team has built a remarkable brand position and we are certain they will continue to play a key role in driving the green energy transition in Europe in the years to come. We look forward to partnering with the Svea Solar team and shareholders to deliver on that ambition.” says Herman Korsgaard, Director at Altor.

For more information, please contact:
Tor Krusell, Head of Communications at Altor, tor.krusell@altor.com, +46 705 43 87 47

About Altor
Since inception, the family of Altor funds has raised some EUR 8.3 billion in total commitments. The funds have invested in excess of EUR 5 billion in more than 75 companies. The investments have been made in medium sized predominantly Nordic companies with the aim to create value through growth initiatives and operational improvements. Among current and past investments are OX2 and H2 Green Steel. For more information visit www.altor.com

About Svea Solar
Svea Solar is one of Europe’s fastest growing cleantech companies and the #1 solar solution provider in Sweden. Starting in 2014 Svea Solar now has operations in five markets in Europe with over 700 employees. Svea Solar offers a powerful solution for sustainable living with solar panel systems, batteries, electric car chargers, fossil-free electricity contracts, and a platform enabling customers to produce, consume and sell their power. In addition, Svea Solar develops large-scale energy production. Svea Solar aims for a world where everyone can be self-sufficient on clean energy. Svea Solar has operations in Sweden, Germany, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands. For more information visit www.sveasolar.com

Author: Katarina Karlsson
Date: 2022.03.24
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Audax Private Equity Completes the Sale of Smart Care Equipment Solutions to Zone Climate Services

Audax Group

Audax Private Equity (“Audax”) today announced that it has completed the sale of Smart Care Equipment Solutions (“Smart Care” or the “Company”), a leading provider of commercial kitchen equipment maintenance services, to Zone Climate Services, a provider of mission-critical refrigeration and HVAC services that is backed by Wind Point Partners. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Minneapolis / St. Paul, Minnesota, Smart Care helps some of the largest and most selective foodservice brands maximize revenue and deliver their brand promise by providing repair and maintenance services that help ensure their customers’ commercial kitchen equipment is operational. Working in partnership with Audax, the Smart Care team executed on Audax’ Buy & Build strategy, completing 14 add-on acquisitions, growing to over 1,400 employees, and completing over 350,000 service events annually.

Since partnering with Audax in November 2017, Smart Care delivered this transformational growth and value creation by:

  • Successfully carving out the business from a Fortune 250 company, which included establishing the new Smart Care brand, building essential functional teams, and adding capabilities required to help deliver on ambitious growth targets.
  • Transforming Smart Care into a strategic asset with significant investments in talent and a world class IT infrastructure, including proprietary reporting that enables customers to maximize uptime and reduce operating costs.
  • Leveraging investments in sales and innovation to drive organic growth.
  • Acquiring 14 service companies that strengthened Smart Care’s core service offering, while entering two adjacent markets to better serve customers.

Don Bramley, Managing Director at Audax, said, “We are proud of the business we built working with the Smart Care team. From the start, we were aligned on how we would execute our Buy & Build strategy to help create a company that would deliver value for Smart Care’s customers, associates, communities, and investors. We wish Bill Emory, Smart Care’s CEO, and the entire Smart Care organization continued success as they embark on their next chapter of growth.”

Bill Emory added, “My Team and I feel very fortunate to have had Audax as a partner over the past four years. They played a critical role in our success by providing unmatched operational expertise and deep business acumen where we needed them. In short, our success is a direct reflection of what Don and his Team brought to Smart Care and they share equally in our success. Looking forward, we are excited partner with Zone Climate Services to continue to execute on our growth strategy. As I move into a new role as Smart Care Equipment Solution’s Chairman, I am excited to work closely with Smart Care’s talented and new CEO, Henry Lees-Buckley, who will manage the combined organization.”

Harris Williams served as financial advisor and Ropes & Gray served as legal advisor to Audax Private Equity.

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The Gantrex Group a company supported by Argos Wityu acquires ABS Consultor

argos wityu

In so doing, the Gantrex Group expands its Port Crane Services offer.

Nivelles (Belgium), 1 February 2022 – The Gantrex Group, through its Spanish subsidiary Gantrex Spain S.A., has signed a Share Purchase Agreement in which it has acquired 100% of the shares of Bravo Silva Consultoría Técnica, S.L., also known as “ABS Consultor”, for an undisclosed amount.

With this transaction Gantrex takes the first step executing its new “Gantrex 4.0” strategic plan, in which management aims to create a more intimate customer relation through addition of mechanical services and new digital solutions, and by doing so increase global revenue in line with our ambitions.

In recent years both Gantrex and ABS have developed a new global service activity focused on repair and modification of trolley rail systems on container handling cranes. In executing these projects, port customers often asked Gantrex to go beyond its traditional scope and include a wider range of mechanical services. The acquisition of ABS will allow the scope of services to be expanded and provide a more complete offering to customers in the region. In addition, the Company expects to leverage its global presence of regional inventories to further develop sales of a variety of crane parts.

Antonio Bravo Silva, ABS Managing Director, “In a first contact, I recognized the business synergy and the potential to be part of the Gantrex Group would have. To sell the Company was a difficult decision, because we created a consolidated company, with great professional team, offering diversified services and products for all types of port cranes, keeping our customers loyal in this difficult-to-reach sector. Now we close one stage, result of sacrifice, hard work and perseverance to face this new future with even more optimism and enthusiasm to continue growing within this great organization”

Alberto Beraza, Gantrex VP SW-Europe & Latin America, “For Gantrex in addition to measuring the potential of the operation, it was and is being a learning process in certain aspects, the markets of both companies are parallel, but not the same. Concepts such as designing or adapting spare parts to the needs of each crane is a very interesting line to be easily exported to the Worldwide Port Market. As planned in “Gantrex 4.0”, Port Crane Business opens very interesting doors for the coming years”

Maarten Impens, Gantrex Group CEO, “In discussing with Antonio and his team, we immediately recognized a company which shares the same values in terms of Quality, Innovation and Business Ethics as we do at Gantrex. Our customers in the port industry are increasingly asking to expand our mechanical service offering beyond traditional crane rail solutions, and with the integration of ABS into the Gantrex Group we will be able to provide them a more complete answer. This is an exciting first step in the execution of our new strategic growth plan and we look forward to growing the business alongside Antonio and his team.”

Maarten Meijssen - Argos Wityu

Maarten Meijssen, Argos Wityu Partner, “The acquisition by Gantrex of ABS is perfectly in line with the group’s strategy to develop its port crane services. Thanks to their overlapping client portfolios this is a highly value enhancing partnership for Gantrex, ABS and their clients.”

Argos Wityu team: Maarten Meijssen, Arne Louwagie

Advisers
Buy side
LEGAL & TAX: Garrigues (Laura Muñoz, Alexandra Beltran, Marcos Modrego)
FINANCIAL: Deloitte (Oscar Arroyo Revilla, Victoria Trueba)

Sell side
LEGAL, FINANCIAL & TAX: Altalex Asesores (Eduardo Castaño, Carlos Izuel)

Argos Wityu

Coralie Cornet
Head of Communications
ccc@argos.fund
+33 6 14 38 33 37

Gantrex

Maarten Impens
Gantrex Group CEO
maarten.impens@gantrex.com
+32 67 888 030

About Argos Wityu / www.argos.wityu.fund
Argos Wityu is an independent European investment fund that supports companies in the transfer of business ownership. It has assisted more than 80 entrepreneurs, focusing its investment strategy on complex transactions with emphasis on transformation, growth, and close collaboration with management teams. Argos Wityu seeks to acquire majority interests and invest between €10m and €100m with each transaction. With more than €1bn under management and 30 years of experience, Argos Wityu operates from offices in Brussels, Frankfurt, Geneva, Luxembourg, Milan and Paris.

About Gantrex / www.gantrex.com
Founded in 1971, having its corporate headquarters in Belgium and regional offices in USA, Canada, Germany, Spain, China, Singapore, India and the UAE, Gantrex is the global market leader in production, distribution, installation and maintenance of high-quality crane rail solutions. Its products are used in many different applications and end-markets including ports, shipyards, steel mills, aluminium smelters, railway depots and heavy industries. The group realizes a turnover of ~€90m and employs approximately 350 people globally in 20 countries. In October 2015, Gantrex was acquired by Argos Wityu, a pan-European investment fund with offices in Paris, Milan, Brussels, Frankfurt and Geneva.

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Arsenal Acquires ATP Group from Bregal Unternehmerkapital

Arsenal Capital Partners

New York, NY and Luxembourg- Bregal Unternehmerkapital (“BU”) announced the sale of ATP Group (“ATP“), a leading manufacturer of water-based adhesive tapes, to Arsenal Capital Partners (“Arsenal”). The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

ATP, headquartered in Wollerau, Switzerland, with production sites in Bad Kreuzburg (Germany), Philadelphia (USA), and Ipswich (United Kingdom), employs approximately 460 staff and has its own R&D capabilities to develop single- and double-sided high-performing industrial adhesive tapes, tailored individually to specific customer requirements. The products are manufactured on state-of-the-art coating machines and utilized by customers in a broad range of medical, mobility, construction, electronics, industrial, and graphics applications. Furthermore, being water-based, ATP’s high-quality adhesive tapes are also considerably more environmentally friendly than other adhesive solutions.

“We appreciate the hands-on support that Bregal Unternehmerkapital has provided us during our partnership,” said Daniel Heini, President and Chief Executive Officer of ATP. “Our commitment to environmentally friendly solutions provides a long-term growth opportunity for ATP. We are excited to partner with Arsenal to continue our global expansion and become the partner of choice of specialty water-based tapes to our international customer base.”

Felix Werdin, a Partner of BU, added, “We appreciate the continuous development of ATP by Daniel Heini and the entire ATP management team into the leading water-based adhesive tapes manufacturer. We are proud to have supported the team to accelerate the company’s overseas expansion over the past years, and we are convinced that ATP is well positioned for the next stage of its impressive growth trajectory with its new partner Arsenal.”

Roy Seroussi, an Investment Partner of Arsenal, commented, “We see a significant unmet need for environmentally friendly tapes across technically demanding end markets, and ATP is at the forefront of this substitution trend. Together with Daniel and ATP’s management team, Arsenal intends to accelerate the company’s global growth strategy through innovation, manufacturing extensions, and acquisitions.”

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC acted as exclusive financial advisor to Bregal Unternehmerkapital and ATP. Houlihan Lokey served as a financial advisor to Arsenal.

About ATP Group
Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Wollerau, Switzerland, ATP is the leading developer, manufacturer, and supplier of all types of specialized, single-sided and double-sided water based adhesive tapes. ATP’s business model is driven by developing customized and bespoke products for its customers. The company has a well-established global distribution network and serves customers across 60+ countries worldwide. ATP pioneered water-based adhesive tape technology, which is significantly more environmentally friendly. For more information, visit www.atp-ag.com.

About Bregal Unternehmerkapital
BU is part of a family-owned business that has grown over several generations. The BU funds invest in mid-sized companies in the DACH region and Northern Italy across a wide range of sectors with a focus on market leaders and “hidden champions” with strong management teams and outbreak potential. With patient capital, entrepreneurial expertise and a partnership approach, our team works closely with entrepreneurs to develop, internationalize, and digitalize portfolio companies, and to help them generate sustainable value on a responsible basis.

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