Equistone sells Heras to Garda Group

Equistone

Equistone Partners Europe (“Equistone”), one of Europe’s most active mid-market private equity investors, today announces that it has reached a conditional agreement to sell the Funds’ investment in Heras, an established European end-to-end supplier of permanent and mobile perimeter protection solutions, to European perimeter and technical security company Garda Group.

Headquartered in Oirschot in the Netherlands, Heras has operations in eight countries, offering customers in more than 20 markets end-to-end perimeter security solutions that cover all aspects from design, manufacturing, installation to maintenance and repairs. Today, the company employs around 1,000 people. Through the agreed transaction, Heras will become part of Garda Group, which currently operates in the Nordics and Germany and includes brands such as Garda Sikring, Heda Security, KIBO Security, Great Security, Freihoff Gruppe, Gleich Gruppe, Schmid Alarm and vi2vi.

Since Equistone invested in the business in 2019, Heras has pursued a strategic focus on providing high-security solutions and recurring services to public- and private-sector clients operating critical infrastructure, supported by two bolt-on acquisitions in the Nordic and German markets. Equistone has also supported the implementation of a group-wide ESG strategy and significant investment into Heras’ production sites, for both permanent and mobile products, across the Netherlands, Belgium and France.

Hubert van Wolfswinkel, Partner at Equistone, said: “It has been a pleasure for the Equistone Funds to have supported Heras with the strategic development of its business and its team over the past five years. In partnership with the Equistone Funds, the company has refined its strategic focus on high-security solutions and recurring services, while upgrading its production sites and delivering a comprehensive ESG strategy. Heras is a renowned and expert provider of security solutions, and I am confident that the company will continue to prosper as part of the Garda Group.”

Moritz Treude, Director at Equistone, said: “Heras has performed very strongly during the ownership of the Equistone Funds, enabled by the strategic repositioning of the business. The Equistone Funds have supported the company’s investment in state-of-the-art production facilities, including automated machinery and equipment as well as robotisation – resulting in increased quality, greater capacity, and more efficient and sustainable production.”

Emmanuel Rigaux, CEO of Heras, said: “In partnership with Equistone, Heras has undergone a significant transformation since 2019 and is now in an exceptionally strong position in the European market. We share a strong alignment with the Garda Group in terms of corporate strategy, vision and values, and we are fully confident that they are the right partner to support us in the next phase of our development and continue the successful development of the past five years.”

Jon Ola Stokke, CEO of Garda Group, said: “We are delighted to welcome Heras and its skilled team to the Garda Group. Heras is a well-run, innovative company and our customers will benefit greatly from its recent investments in the capacity, quality and efficiency of its facilities. Heras also shares our focus on sustainability, working with partners throughout the value chain to reduce CO2 emissions and implement a more circular economy. This acquisition provides us with new expertise, a broader product range and modern technical solutions, while complementing our Nordic presence, expanding our footprint into new territories such as the UK, Benelux and France and providing our customers in Germany with perimeter security solutions alongside our existing technical security solutions.”

The agreed transaction is subject to certain closing conditions, including completion of the Dutch works council consultation process and obtaining relevant regulatory clearances. Once completed, the transaction would extend a period of significant exit activity for Equistone, with today’s announcement marking Equistone’s fifth full exit of 2024.

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Ardian enters in exclusive discussions to acquire a majority stake in Robot-Coupe and Magimix

Ardian

Ardian will invest in the two iconic and leading brands alongside the Hameur Group, who is the Group’s historic shareholder

Ardian, a world-leading private equity house, announces that it has entered into exclusive discussions to acquire a majority stake in Robot-Coupe and Magimix, alongside Hameur Group.

Founded in 1961 in the French region of Burgundy, Robot-Coupe is the undisputed global market leader in premium benchtop equipment for professional use. Robot-Coupe has become a must-have in all professional kitchens, leveraging its superior brand image and value proposition. Its products are known for their reliability, durability, adaptability, reparability, easy-to-use features and Made-in-France quality.

The company is present in over 130 countries and serves more than 7,000 distributors and importers across the world, with leading market shares in its core geographies (namely the US, France, Australia and the UK). Robot-Coupe’s expansion is supported by a unique sales & marketing strategy, which benefits from a large and proactive on-the-ground sales team.

Over the past 60 years, Robot-Coupe has developed an attractive and innovative product portfolio covering most food preparation, from chopping and mixing to whisking and emulsifying. Its main product groups are food processors, vegetable preparators, juicers, and blenders, with each model designed in a wide range of sizes and functions for greater capacity and versatility.

Magimix was created in 1971 by leveraging Robot-Coupe’s expertise and focuses on premium small kitchen appliances for domestic use. This iconic brand is an industry leader in food preparation equipment such as food processors, blenders, juicers and coffee machines (via a strategic partnership with Nespresso initiated in 1997). The company primarily operates in France, the UK and the Netherlands, and serves a diversified customer base of specialized retailers, department stores and independent retailers, supported by a strong online presence.
Through this partnership, Ardian and the Hameur Group will support the Robot-Coupe and Magimix’s management teams plan to consolidate their market leadership position through accelerated organic growth and internationalization. This growth is expected to be delivered by the continued success of their existing products, a pipeline of new innovative solutions and potentially seizing external growth opportunities. Ardian is well placed to support the group’s ambitious strategic plan given its track record, expertise and international network in the Food Value Chain sector.

The completion of the transaction is subject to the legal usual conditions and the approval of the relevant regulatory authorities.

“Given our common DNA, based on French roots combined with international reach, we are convinced that Ardian is the right partner to begin a new chapter for the Group. We would like to welcome the Ardian team, who share our values, our vision and our ambition to accelerate the development of the company. Together, we will focus on enhancing Robot-Coupe and Magimix’s leadership position by combining our resources, know-how and strategic vision. We are delighted with this partnership, which marks a new momentum for our group.” Gilbert Verdun, CEO of Robot-Coupe and Magimix

“We are very pleased by this ambitious partnership with the Hameur Group, based on shared values and mutual trust. This partnership allows us to invest in a unique Group combining two iconic brands in a sector we know well and in which we have a strong network. This transaction is another example of how Ardian is the partner of choice in accompanying a family-owned group in its next development phase.” Thibault Basquin, Co-Head of Buyout and Member of the Executive Committee, Ardian

“With their renowned expertise and their long-term vision, the Hameur Group representatives, Gilbert Verdun and his teams have created global market leaders, offering innovative and unrivalled products targeting the attractive Food-Service industry. We are glad to partner with them in this new chapter and to accompany them in their accelerated growth and diversification strategy.” Emmanuel Miquel, Co-Head of Buyout France & Managing Director, Ardian

Over the course of our interactions, we have been very impressed by the quality of Robot-Coupe and Magimix’s management and their passion to create the best and most efficient food preparation products. We look forward to supporting them in the next development phase.” Alexis Manet, Managing Director Buyout, Ardian

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

  • ARDIAN

    • ARDIAN: THIBAULT BASQUIN, EMMANUEL MIQUEL, ALEXIS MANET, NICOLAS KASSAB, ANOUK DAOUDAL, MARTIN BLANC
    • ARDIAN FINANCING TEAM: GREGORY BUSCAYRET, ARIS TORANIAN
    • BUYER M&A ADVISORS: AMALA PARTNERS (JEAN-BAPTISTE MARCHAND, VINCENT VILLE, CHLOÉ SPIGOLON), J.P. MORGAN (KYRIL COURBOIN, ROGIER POP, MOUNIR CHAHINE), SYCOMORE CORPORATE FINANCE (FRANÇOIS VIGNE), PC ASSOCIÉS (ANDRÉ FRANÇOIS-PONCET)
    • BUYER LEGAL ADVISOR: LATHAM & WATKINS (GAETAN GIANASSO, MICHAEL COLLE, AYMERIC DERRIEN-AKAGAWA (CORPORATE), XAVIER FARDE, CARLA-SOPHIE IMPERADEIRO (FINANCING), XAVIER RENARD, CAMILLE PONS (STRUCTURING))
    • BUYER STRATEGIC DD: BAIN & COMPANY (DAPHNÉ VATTIER, ANDREA GONDEKOVA, PAUL QUIPOURT)
    • BUYER FINANCIAL DD: ALVAREZ & MARSAL (FRÉDÉRIC STEINER, BAPTISTE RIDEAU)
    • BUYER OPS DD: ALVAREZ & MARSAL (RENALD BEJAOUI, MEHDI TAHRI)
    • BUYER LEGAL & SOCIAL DD: LATHAM & WATKINS (GAETAN GIANASSO, MICHAEL COLLE, AYMERIC DERIEN-AKAGAWA)
    • BUYER TAX DD: DELOITTE (OLIVIER VENZAL, JEAN-CHRISTOPHE TEORE-BORASCHI)
    • BUYER ENVIRONMENT & ESG DD: DELOITTE (LAURIANE MAROUZE, CHARLOTTE BANCILHON)
    • BUYER DIGITAL DD: SINGULIER X INDEFI (RÉMI PESSEGUIER, DAVID TOLEDANO)
    • BUYER INSURANCE DD: MARSH (JEAN-MARIE DARGAIGNARATZ, CLARA NOT)
  • ROBOT-COUPE & MAGIMIX

    • MANAGEMENT: GILBERT VERDUN, MARC DE SAINTE-CROIX, MAXIME DE JENLIS, PATRICK MARIANI, JEAN-MARIE LOZANO
    • VENDOR M&A ADVISORS: BNP PARIBAS (MARC WALBAUM, SÉBASTIEN REBEIX), SOCIÉTÉ GÉNÉRALE (CYRIL PAOLANTONI, MARCO BESSONE)
    • VENDOR LEGAL ADVISORS: WHITE & CASE (THIERRY BOSLY, THOMAS GLAUDEN, LAURE BAUDURET)
    • VENDOR STRATEGIC DD: ROLAND BERGER (STÉPHANE TUBIANA, LOUIS CHUPIN)
    • VENDOR FINANCIAL DD: EY (GILLES MARCHADIER, ELSA ABOU MRAD, FRANÇOIS ESTIN)
    • VENDOR LEGAL & SOCIAL DD: EY (FRÉDÉRIC RELIQUET, ANNE-ELISABETH COMBES), DE GAULLE FLEURANCE & ASSOCIÉS (HENRI-NICOLAS FLEURANCE, JEAN-CHRISTOPHE AMY), STEVENS & BOLTON
    • VENDOR TAX DD: EY (CÉDRIC DEVOUGES), RSM (LEONID KHRISTOFOROV)
    • VENDOR ENVIRONMENT DD: AECOM (BENOIT SOUFFRE)

ABOUT ARDIAN

Ardian is a world-leading private investment house, managing or advising $166bn of assets on behalf of more than 1,650 clients globally. Our broad expertise, spanning Private Equity, Real Assets and Credit, enables us to offer a wide range of investment opportunities and respond flexibly to our clients’ differing needs. Through Ardian Customized Solutions we create bespoke portfolios that allow institutional clients to specify the precise mix of assets they require and to gain access to funds managed by leading third-party sponsors. Private Wealth Solutions offers dedicated services and access solutions for private banks, family offices and private institutional investors worldwide. Ardian’s main shareholding group is its employees and we place great emphasis on developing its people and fostering a collaborative culture based on collective intelligence. Our 1,050+ employees, spread across 19 offices in Europe, the Americas, Asia and Middle East are strongly committed to the principles of Responsible Investment and are determined to make finance a force for good in society. Our goal is to deliver excellent investment performance combined with high ethical standards and social responsibility.
At Ardian we invest all of ourselves in building companies that last.

ABOUT ROBOT-COUPE

Founded in 1961 in Burgundy, Robot-Coupe is the undisputed global market leader of premium benchtop equipment for professional kitchens. Its early success relied on innovation solutions, directly addressing the chefs’ needs for a robust, efficient, reliable, safe and easy-to-use product. Robot-Coupe has quickly expended globally leveraging its strong brand image associated with Made-in-France excellence in gastronomy, becoming the common name for professional food processors, while diversifying into other benchtop product categories (e.g. juicers, immersion blenders, etc.). The company is present in more than 130 countries where it serves more than 7,000 distributors and importers, with leading market shares in its core geographies (namely the US, France, Australia and the UK). Robot-Coupe is operating through a global footprint with three manufacturing and assembly sites located in France, the US, and Sweden.

ABOUT MAGIMIX

Created in 1971 leveraging Robot-Coupe’s expertise, Magimix focuses on premium small kitchen appliances for domestic use, with a clear leadership in food preparation equipment and coffee machines. Magimix offers a wide range of products consisting of food processors (notably its flagship product, the Cook Expert), blenders, juicers, co-branded coffee machines through a strategic long-term partnership with Nespresso, and other products (e.g. ice-cream machines, toasters, steamers). Primarily operating in France, the UK and the Netherlands, the company serves a diversified customer base of specialized retailers while benefitting from strong online presence.

MEDIA CONTACTS

ARDIAN

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IK Partners to invest in Kran og Industri Service

IK Partners

IK Partners (“IK”) is pleased to announce that the IK Small Cap III (“IK SC III”) Fund has signed an agreement to invest in Kran og Industri Service (“KIS” or “the Company”), a leading Norwegian provider of inspection and services for cranes and lifting equipment. IK is partnering with the Company’s management and employees; most of whom will be reinvesting as part of the transaction. Financial terms of the transaction are not disclosed.

Founded in Norway in 1987, KIS is a leading market participant in the crane inspection and service industry. The Company is equipment-agnostic and employs over 420 employees who serve approximately 4,600 clients. These clients are primarily in the Industrials sector and consider cranes mission-critical to their operations. KIS’ model is based on a full-service offering, covering both testing, inspection and certification as well as service and maintenance. The Company has a long history of providing safe and high-quality services for its customers and has established itself as the clear market leader in Norway.

KIS benefits from a strong platform in a comparatively under-professionalised sector, with solid systems infrastructure and a structured go-to-market strategy which targets the most attractive customer verticals. The Company has also already started its international expansion journey with add-on acquisitions in the Netherlands, laying the groundwork for further geographic diversification.

With the support of IK’s investment and sector expertise, KIS aims to continue its organic growth trajectory by winning new customers in its target markets and improving operational efficiency. Additionally, KIS plans to pursue inorganic growth in both existing and new markets to create a pan-European inspection and service player.

Svein-Frode Børsting, Chairman and Group CEO of KIS, said: “We are looking forward to working closely with the IK team to ensure that KIS solidifies its position as a leading inspection and service player in both Norway and the Netherlands. We are confident that, with their experience of building pan-European champions, we can further expand our position internationally and improve the product offering for our existing customer base to continue our already strong growth trajectory.”

Henrik Geijer, Partner at IK and Advisor to the IK SC III Fund, said: “We have been very impressed with the work already done by the KIS management team to build the market leader in the Norwegian market. With the support of IK’s investment and experience, the Company will be able to target new European markets and ensure that it continues to attract high-quality clients on a recurring basis. We look forward to working closely with Svein-Frode and his team to deliver continued success.”

For further questions, please contact:

IK Partners
Vidya Verlkumar
Phone: +44 (0) 7787 558 193
vidya.verlkumar@ikpartners.com

About Kran og Industri Service

Kran og Industri Service (“KIS”, the “Company”) is a Norwegian provider of inspection and services for cranes and lifting equipment. The company is equipment agnostic with a customer base primarily comprising of industrial clients, for whom the cranes are mission-critical to its operations. KIS’ model is based on a full-service offering, covering both testing, inspection and certification as well as service and maintenance. For more information, visit kis.no

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About IK Partners

IK Partners (“IK”) is a European private equity firm focused on investments in the Benelux, DACH, France, Nordics and the UK. Since 1989, IK has raised more than €16.5 billion of capital and invested in over 180 European companies. IK supports companies with strong underlying potential, partnering with management teams and investors to create robust, well-positioned businesses with excellent long-term prospects. For more information, visit ikpartners.com

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IK Partners enters into a partnership with BOMA

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IK Partners

IK Partners (“IK”) is pleased to announce that the IK X Fund has signed an agreement to invest in BOMA (“the Company”), a leading distributor of cleaning and hygiene products and machines to business-to-business (“B2B”) markets in the Benelux and France. IK will partner with BOMA’s management team, who will retain a significant stake in the business. Financial terms of the transaction are not disclosed which is subject to customary approvals.

Founded in Belgium in 1974, BOMA is a market-leading developer and distributor of sustainable cleaning products, machines and hygiene solutions for the professional market. The Company has an extensive product portfolio which ranges from hygiene paper, disposable materials, detergents and disinfectants to cleaning equipment, including scrubber-dryers and robotics.

BOMA supplies numerous reputable professional cleaning companies, blue-chip corporations within Leisure and Industry and institutions from the Governmental, Healthcare and Education sectors. The Company offers a range of products under its innovative brands BOMA and Greenspeed, as well as value-added services, including digital tools and impeccable support, maintenance and logistics services.

Since inception, BOMA has maintained year-on-year growth momentum, consistently outperforming the market. Under the leadership of Luc Bresseleers and Stijn Wildiers, the Company has also expanded geographically and driven consolidation in the market. In partnership with IK, BOMA will look to broaden its product offering to continue attracting high-quality customers, while also exploring strategic add-on opportunities to further solidify its position across Europe.

Luc Bresseleers, Co-Owner and Chief Executive Officer of BOMA, said: “We are looking forward to working closely with the team at IK to ensure that BOMA cements its position as a market leader in the professional cleaning sector, on a European scale. We are confident that, together, we can deliver continued growth and strategic expansion for the benefit of our customers and stakeholders.”

Stijn Wildiers, Co-Owner and Chief Human Resources Officer of BOMA, said: “We would like to place, on record, our thanks to all our employees, existing shareholders and customers for their loyal support, for 50 years already! We are excited to be partnering with IK and look forward to accelerating the next phase our strategy.”

Jo Breesch, Managing Director at Think2Act, said: “We are proud of the consistent growth that the Company has shown over the last 50 years, including the last five years together with us. We want to thank management for the excellent cooperation.”

Frederik Jacobs, Partner at IK and Advisor to the IK X Fund, said: “Under the stewardship of Luc, Stijn and their team, BOMA has established itself as a leading developer and distributor of cleaning products and equipment in specific areas in Europe. We have been extremely impressed with the Company’s journey to date and look forward to utilising our experience to pursue internationalisation and unlock further value through operational initiatives.”

For further questions, please contact:

IK Partners
Vidya Verlkumar
Phone: +44 (0) 7787 558 193
vidya.verlkumar@ikpartners.com

About BOMA

BOMA is a leading specialised B2B distributor of cleaning and hygiene products and machines founded in 1974. The Company is headquartered in Antwerp, Belgium, with a local presence in the Benelux and France. BOMA boasts a broad offering of cleaning solutions sold under its own “BOMA” and “Greenspeed” brands, as well as third-party brands. For more information, visit boma.be

About IK Partners

IK Partners (“IK”) is a European private equity firm focused on investments in the Benelux, DACH, France, Nordics and the UK. Since 1989, IK has raised more than €16.5 billion of capital and invested in over 180 European companies. IK supports companies with strong underlying potential, partnering with management teams and investors to create robust, well-positioned businesses with excellent long-term prospects. For more information, visit ikpartners.com

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Anders Invest acquires KTK Groep from Almelo

Anders Invest

Anders Invest has acquired KTK Groep from Almelo. KTK Groep is the Dutch market leader in custom containers and press installations. The company achieves an annual turnover of €25 to €30 million and employs over 50 people.

KTK Groep is known for its high-quality products and innovative custom solutions. For example, the company is the creator of the lightweight Greenline container, featuring a limited number of frames, folded walls, and the use of lighter steel types. This year, the company is launching a revolutionary concept called Vollov: a lighter and more sustainable variant of the conventional underground collection container, equipped with a steel cylinder or a waterproof bag made of technical textile.

The company’s headquarters are located in Almelo, where the assembly and coating of the containers also take place. At its recently acquired new location in Hattemerbroek, the company performs service and maintenance work and operates an extensive field service team of technicians who work nationwide. KTK has its own engineering and business office and outsources the production of basic containers. Additionally, the company is an importer of Husmann and Kiggen press installations. Its customers include waste processing companies, municipalities, and a wide range of industrial clients.

The shares in KTK Groep were acquired from Vincent Janssen, Tonnie Touwen, and Stephan van Uitert. They will continue to lead the company and, together with Anders Invest, will further shape the growth of the business.

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Ratos Company Semcon’s climate target approved by the Science Based Target initiative

Ratos

Semcon’s climate target has now been validated and approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

“We are proud that Semcon has now had its climate goal approved by SBTi. It shows that Semcon’s own climate work is scientifically based, and it is another important piece of the puzzle in Ratos’s group-wide sustainability work. It is a result of purposeful work at Semcon and a conviction that everyone needs to contribute to the journey towards net-zero” says Josefine Uppling, Vice President Communication & Sustainability, Ratos.

Semcon’s near-term science-based target, which has now been approved by the SBTi, is the following:
Semcon commits to reduce absolute scope 1, 2, and 3 GHG emissions 50% by 2030 from a 2019 base year. (The target boundary includes biogenic land-related emissions and removals from bioenergy feedstocks.)

“Semcon has a strong combination of engineering, digital and sustainability expertise, and we support our customers in the development of green technologies, the transition to net-zero and circular value chains, and much more. While our largest possibility to contribute to the shift to a net-zero society is through our customer projects, we ourselves must do what is required of all companies and organisations right now. The approval of our climate target by the SBTi validates that our commitment is in line with the 1.5°C ambition,” says Markus Granlund, CEO of Semcon.

In June 2021, Semcon committed to setting climate targets in line with the 1.5 °C ambition with the SBTi. Due to Ratos’s acquisition of Semcon in 2022, Semcon’s proposal for near-term target was then submitted in December 2022. The target was resubmitted in November 2023 as the Group structure changed following the divestment of Semcon’s Product Information business area (today independent company Aleido).

Since 2021, Semcon’s overall commitment is to halve emissions by 2030 and be net-zero by 2040, with 2019 as the base year. It’s largest sources of emissions are linked to employee commuting, business travel and purchased goods and services.

About Semcon
Semcon is an international technology partner for companies and organisations in transformation. The company combines engineering expertise, digital services and sustainability know-how in a unique offering for product, production and service development. Always based on human needs and behaviour. Their experts and cross-functional teams make their customers more competitive and improve the user experience and sustainability of their solutions. Because a sustainable future requires innovative thinking and new perspectives. Semcon has approximately 1,400 employees in more than 20 offices in Sweden, Norway and Brazil. Read more at www.semcon.com.

About the Science Based Target initiative
The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is a collaboration between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). The SBTi defines and promotes best practice in science-based target setting and independently assesses companies’ targets. To read more, visit www.sciencebasedtargets.org.

For more information, please contact:
Josefine Uppling, VP Communication & Sustainability, Ratos, +46 76114 54 21
Markus Granlund, President and CEO, Semcon, +46 31 721 03 06


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Gimv announces strategic investment in Curana, leading bicycle components manufacturer

GIMV

Topic: Investment

Gimv is pleased to announce its strategic investment in Curana, a leading developer and manufacturer of high-end bicycle components, specialising in fenders, chain guards and dress guards. Based in Ardooie, Belgium, Curana is renowned for its design and innovation capabilities, providing custom-built solutions for top-tier bicycle manufacturers.

Gimv’s investment in Curana underscores its commitment to the sector of sustainable mobility and lifestyle consumer products and its confidence in Curana’s potential for continued success.

In partnership with Gimv, Curana intends to professionalise its organisation and accelerate its international growth strategy, building upon its reputation as the go-to partner for top-tier bicycle manufacturers. This investment comes at a pivotal moment for Curana, following the untimely passing of its owner, Dirk Vens, during the investment process. Gimv is committed to honouring Dirk’s legacy by continuing to build on the robust foundation he established. Gimv is investing alongside Jean-Charles Malherbe, the newly appointed buy-in CEO, and management to drive this next phase of growth for Curana.

Jean-Charles Malherbe, CEO Curana, states: “Curana has always been at the forefront of design and innovation in the bicycle components industry. Our small but dedicated team is passionate about delivering tailor-made solutions that meet the unique needs of our customers. I am honoured to lead Curana into its next chapter, building on Dirk Vens’ remarkable legacy. Together with Gimv, we will continue to push the boundaries of innovation and maintain the high standards of quality and customer satisfaction for which Curana is known.”

David De Peuter, Partner Gimv Consumer, adds: “Curana is a perfect fit for Gimv’s consumer investment strategy, particularly given its strong presence in the bicycle and e-bike sectors. We are confident in the mid- and long-term prospects for the bicycle industry driven by robust and favourable fundamental trends. We see tremendous potential in Curana’s innovative approach and high-quality products. Our goal is to guide Curana in its next growth phase, ensuring that the company continues to deliver exceptional value to its customers and partners.

Financial details of the transaction will not be disclosed.

 

Read the full document

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Platinum Equity’s Credit Team Provides Term Loan to Westfall Technik

Platinum

LOS ANGELES (June 13, 2024) – Platinum Equity announced today it provided a First-Lien Term Loan to Westfall Technik to refinance existing indebtedness and support future growth of the business.

Westfall Technik is a vertically-integrated manufacturer of injection molded plastic components that primarily serves the healthcare and consumer packaged goods end markets. The company provides design, tooling, molding and assembly capabilities to service the complete lifecycle of molded plastic parts.

 

“We are pleased to have delivered speed and certainty for Westfall Technik at a time when the market remains complex for middle-market borrowers. We have a lot of experience in the manufacturing and packaging sectors. That industry knowledge combined with Platinum’s partnership-focused approach allowed us to create and underwrite a financing solution that is uniquely tailored to the borrower’s needs.”

Jacob Kotzubei and Louis Samson, Co-Presidents, Platinum Equity

Westfall Technik is owned by Lee Equity Partners and BlackBern Partners.

“We are pleased to have delivered speed and certainty for Westfall Technik at a time when the market remains complex for middle-market borrowers,” said Platinum Equity Co-Presidents Jacob Kotzubei and Louis Samson in a joint statement. “We have a lot of experience in the manufacturing and packaging sectors. That industry knowledge combined with Platinum’s partnership-focused approach allowed us to create and underwrite a financing solution that is uniquely tailored to the borrower’s needs.”

The Westfall Technik financing is led by Platinum Equity’s dedicated credit team, which seeks opportunities to provide debt capital to companies for a variety of uses, including acquisitions, refinancings and recapitalizations.

“Our goal is to serve as a real strategic partner and deploy Platinum’s financial and intellectual capital to add material value for borrowers and their sponsors,” said Platinum Equity Managing Director and Global Head of Credit Michael Fabiano. “We think Westfall is a great fit for our approach. The company has a well-diversified customer base, impressive scale and operates in markets we know well. We are excited to partner with Lee Equity and BlackBern to support Westfall Technik’s growth and evolution.”

Platinum’s credit team targets companies that generally have $15 to $75 million of EBITDA and are primarily based in North America.

“Our credit team is actively looking for additional opportunities to support borrowers and their sponsors as they pursue their strategic objectives,” added Fabiano.

Houlihan Lokey acted as the sole lead placement agent to Westfall Technik.

About Platinum Equity

Founded in 1995 by Tom Gores, Platinum Equity is a global investment firm with more than $48 billion of assets under management and a portfolio of approximately 50 operating companies that serve customers around the world. Platinum Equity specializes in mergers, acquisitions and operations – a trademarked strategy it calls M&A&O® – acquiring and operating companies in a broad range of business markets, including manufacturing, distribution, transportation and logistics, equipment rental, metals services, media and entertainment, technology, telecommunications and other industries. Over the past 28 years Platinum Equity has completed more than 450 acquisitions and debt financings.

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Ratos company LEDiL to acquire Ingemann Components

Ratos

LEDiL, the global market leader in secondary optics for LED lighting, is joining forces with the northern European leader in optical diffusive and reflective components: Ingemann Components (“Ingemann”). LEDiL has signed an agreement to acquire all the shares of Ingemann, creating a combined company that will serve as a one-stop shop for indoor lighting manufacturers.

Ingemann specialises in optimising light output, luminaire efficiency, light distribution, and glare control by providing customised best-in-class products and services. Through long-standing, close customer relationships and high-quality offerings, Ingemann achieved a revenue CAGR of approximately 20% for 2018-2023 (with its present offering), thereby securing a market-leading position in the Nordic office lighting industry. The company’s recent growth has been further fuelled by its geographic expansion in Europe and the US. As a result of the complementary offerings of LEDiL and Ingemann, LEDiL will accelerate Ingemann’s geographic expansion through its global sales and distribution network. Ingemann also creates a platform for further growth in large-scale optics.

“Add-on acquisitions are a core part of Ratos’s strategy, and since 2021, we have completed 19 add-on acquisitions. With complementary offerings and LEDiL’s global customer relationships coupled with proven operational excellence, this acquisition has all the prerequisites to drive profitable growth. LEDiL’s acquisition of Ingemann will create synergies and benefit the customers,” says Jonas Wiström, Chairman of the Board of LEDiL and President & CEO of Ratos.

“At LEDiL, we appreciate Ingemann’s outstanding customer service model, and we will invest in expanding this new complementary offering through our sales networks. Through our combined efforts, we can reach even more customers globally and provide a unique one-stop shop for indoor lighting manufacturers,” says Kimmo Rauhala, CEO of LEDiL.

About Ledil
LEDiL is a Finland-based, global leader in secondary optics for LED lighting. The company designs, develops and sells secondary optics for LED lighting globally. Secondary optics process light from the LED to achieve the luminaires’ optimal function, with the highest energy efficiency possible. Development and design are carried out in Salo, Finland. Products are sold worldwide through the company’s own sales force, agents, and distributors, and LEDiL exhibits industry-leading margins. The company’s products are primarily used in commercial applications such as street lighting, retail, and offices. The number of employees is approximately 110.

About Ingemann Components
Ingemann is a Denmark-based, northern European leader in light output, luminaire efficiency, light distribution, and glare control for large-scale optics. The company’s products are primarily used in retail and offices. The company generates approximately EUR 12m in revenue, with development, design and production carried out in Bjæverskov, Denmark. The company was founded in 2002.

For more information, please contact:
Josefine Uppling, VP Communication, Ratos, +46 76 114 54 21
Kimmo Rauhala, CEO, LEDiL, +35 8 50 558 37 68

About Ratos
Ratos is a Swedish business group focusing on technological and infrastructure solutions, consisting of 17 companies divided into three business areas: Construction & Services, Industry and Consumer. The companies have approximately SEK 34 billion in net sales (LTM). We have a distinct corporate culture and strategy – everything we do is based on our core values: Simplicity, Speed in Execution and It’s All About People. We enable independent subsidiaries to excel by being part of something larger. People, leadership, culture and values are key focus areas.

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SMG Sportplatzmaschinenbau GmbH teams up with Gimv to further accelerate global expansion

GIMV

Topic: Investment

Vöhringen, Bavaria – Founded in 1975, SMG Sportplatzmaschinenbau GmbH (www.smg-machines.com) has established itself as a global leader in the development and manufacturing of cutting-edge machines for the sports industry and today used by elite teams such as Real Madrid, FC Bayern Munich, and the Miami Dolphins. Together with Tobias and Daniel Owegeser, who remain involved as shareholders, Gimv is set to accelerate the further growth and international expansion of SMG.

SMG’s impressive portfolio includes specialized machines used in a wide array of sports and recreational settings – from playgrounds and athletics tracks to private tennis courts and soccer (training) grounds. For almost 50 years, SMG has been a trailblazer in the synthetic sports surfaces and artificial turf sectors, offering machines that expertly mix components, lay base layers, and line surfaces. Their innovative artificial turf machines are renowned for precision backfilling and maintenance, employing advanced self-propelled and ride-on technology.

With all development and production taking place in Germany, SMG collaborates closely with leading material manufacturers and installation companies to ensure top-tier quality. Boasting a global clientele of over 1,200 customers, the company is supported by 55 dedicated employees in Vöhringen and an extensive network of independent sales partners worldwide. Notably, the USA represents SMG’s largest market, with prestigious clients across high schools, colleges, universities, and American Football Clubs.

Now, with Gimv’s partnership, SMG is set to embark on the next phase of its remarkable journey. The expertise of Gimv as new majority shareholder will be instrumental in fueling further international growth with spearheading products to the next level.

Details of the transaction remain confidential.

Daniel and Tobias Owegeser, co-owners of SMG, declare: “We have already grown significantly in recent decades and have laid the foundations for the successful expansion of our business, particularly in the USA. Together with our father Johann and our brother Markus, we have decided that we want to team up with a strong partner to further boost our growth story in the years to come.  Jointly with Gimv, we now want to take the next steps towards internationalization and make targeted use of the many opportunities abroad.

Ronald Bartel, Partner Smart Industries, declares: “With SMG, we are delighted to welcome an exceptional and impressive new technical and industrial addition to our Smart Industries platform. We are deeply convinced of the product as well as the owners and management team and look forward to supporting SMG on its global growth path.

 

Read the full document

 

Gimv

Karel Oomsstraat 37, 2018 Antwerpen, Belgium

www.gimv.com

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