Tag Archives: Logistics

Their common objective is for Schenk to play an important role in the creation of a sustainable and future-proof logistics network by building on its leading ESG position in the Western European transportation market.

Argoswityu

Papendrecht (The Netherlands), Brussels (Belgium) – 16th of August 2021 – Argos Wityu, a pan-European private equity fund has reached an agreement with Harry and Arjan Schenk to acquire a majority stake in the company that carries their name as its current shareholders. Via this investment, Argos will help the Schenk brothers to realize a stable shareholder and management transition for the company. The acquisition marks Argos’ first investment by Fund VIII and highlights the strong commitment Argos has towards ESG[1] in this Fund.

Since its inception in 1925 by the Schenk family, the company transformed from a sand and gravel transport company into a logistical partner specialized in complex gas and liquid logistical services. With Harry and Arjan Schenk, 3rd generation, taking over the leadership by the end of the 1980s, the company diversified away from a pure road transporter of fuels into a logistical service provider for industrial gases, LNG, chemicals, fuels, lubricants, LPG, bitumen, and liquid food products which require complex handling requirements. In doing so, the group has already anticipated and included in its strategy for a number of years an increasing importance of sustainability and can now claim a market leading position in this respect. Both Argos and the Schenk brothers have taken up a strong commitment to continue to build upon and further enforce Schenk’s position as an enabler of a sustainable logistical world.

Schenk, strategically located in the heart of the ARRRA[2] region, has grown to an organization employing more than 1.600 employees and generating over €200m in revenues. Out of its offices in The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany, the company manages a dense network of last-mile connections serviced by a large fleet of 900 modern trucks and tank trailers, on top of providing intermodal services out of its Netherlands offices with its fleet of tank containers. Efficiency and outstanding quality has always been at the heart of Schenk’s services which has resulted in long-term customer relationships in all of its product segments.

Having successfully led the company for over 30 years, Harry and Arjan Schenk look forward to paving the way for a transition in a stable environment while continuing to grow the activity in current and new product segments and adding adjacent logistical services. Harry and Arjan have selected Argos Wityu for their experience in shareholder and management transitions in long-standing family businesses, their strong focus on ESG and to support the company in densifying its network organically and via an international buy-and-build program. They will retain a significant stake in the company and will continue in their roles as co-CEO to ensure continuity until a suitable successor has been identified. The transaction is still subject to the approval of the Dutch market authorities and the works council.

Harry Schenk, co-CEO and shareholder said: “We are convinced that we found a strong partner in Argos Wityu to maintain our market leading position while continuing to shape the ongoing consolidation in the market. Both put us in a strong position for the current energy transition and associated investments. With the help of Argos, we also want to continue to invest in the sustainability of our fleet in the coming years and to continue to provide our customers with the service they are accustomed to. We are delighted to be able to take this new step in the history of our family business together with Argos Wityu, the management team and our employees.”

Maarten Meijssen, Partner at Argos Wityu added “We have the utmost respect for the company and organization that Harry and Arjan have developed together with the management team and all employees of Schenk. They have always kept their eyes on long term trends while putting in place an organization that serves their clients with the highest level of quality every day. We feel privileged and consider it a big responsibility to join Harry and Arjan in making a successful transition and will do everything to continue to confirm the strong reputation that Schenk has today. For Argos, this is a unique opportunity to invest in a sustainable future of logistics.”

Argos Wityu team: Gilles Mougenot, Maarten Meijssen, Arne Louwagie, Julie Wouters

Buyer advisors

Legal – Houthoff (Bram Caudri, Ivar Brouwer, Britt Oerlemans)

Financial – Deloitte Transaction Advisory (Corjan Kuip, Bart Beemster, Jens Noppe)

Pension – Deloitte (Frans Heijs, Stella Evers)

Commercial – Arthur D. Little (Martijn Eikelenboom, Marc de Pater)

Tax – JSA Tax (NL) (Ronald Braxhoofden, Ronald van de Merwe, Anne Joritsma) / Finvision (BE) (Philip Haagdorens, Alix Stockman, Aurélie Godschalx) / GKK Partners (DE) (Dr. Michael Hoheisel, Maren Röhr)

Insurance – Aon (Richard Stemerdink, Ingrid van Bussel)

Environmental – Tauw (Hans Nieuwenhuis, Monica Martens)

Seller advisors

Sellside M&A advisor – Nielen Schuman (Ernst Berger, Joost Moelker, Joyce van Luit, Oscar Crolla, Steve Nugteren, Joep Houf)

Financial – PwC (Robert du Burck, Michiel Semeijn, Mathieu Cantarella)

Legal – Loyens & Loeff (Harmen Holtrop, Rob Schrooten, Roos van den Berg)

Debt advisory – Nielen Schuman (Ger van der Linden)

[1] Environmental, Social and Governance

[2] Antwerp Rotterdam Rhein Ruhr Area

Contacts

Media : Cécile Hisette
+ 32 473 36 14 11
info@cecili-z.be

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

Harry en Arjan Schenk
CEO Schenk Tanktransport
info_nl@schenk-tanktransport.eu
+31 78 6442 150

Categories: News

Tags:

Rotom Europe attracts growth capital from Waterland

Waterland

Rotom Europe, a leading Pan-European provider of logistic load carriers for transport and storage, has attracted growth capital from its new shareholder Waterland.

Rotom Europe, headquartered in Son (Eindhoven, the Netherlands), has successfully developed into a Pan-European full service provider in the field of bespoke load carriers, with an annual turnover of more than € 140 million. Nowadays, Rotom is operationally active in 10 European countries, with 26 locations throughout Europe and has 500 employees. The group is developing, producing, trading, collecting, renting out, repairing and maintaining a broad range of logistics load carriers including for example wooden pallets, metal roll containers, mobile racks, and plastic pallets and bins for a wide range of customers.

After 30 years of successful expansion, the current board members and shareholders have the ambition to accelerate the growth of Rotom Europe, by developing the company into the leading European player in the field of bespoke load carriers and related services. In order to achieve this ambition, additional strategic support and capital are required to pursue add-on acquisitions and strengthen the existing companies in the group. Therefore, after a careful evaluation of the strategic options, Rotom Europe has selected the Pan-European investment company Waterland as its intended financial and strategic partner for the future. Arjan Kuiper, CEO of Rotom Europe, says “it’s our aim to support our customers to become more sustainable with returnable load carriers and packaging recovery solutions on a Pan-European level, for which we have been able to attract the right strategic partner”.

The company plans to acquire several companies providing load carriers and related services in the next few years to increase the density of the European network in existing countries including the Benelux, Germany, Spain, France and the UK and to enter new European countries such as the Nordics, Italy and Eastern Europe. On top of the planned network expansion, Rotom intends to extend its service activities which will enable the group to expand its sustainable solutions offering for customers such as packaging recovery, pooling and rental of returnable load carriers and repair and maintenance to extend product lifetime.

Arjan Kuiper continues: “with Waterland, we have found the right future business partner to realize our ambition to become the European market leader in sustainable bespoke load carriers and solutions. Rotom has deep knowledge of the European market for load carriers, whilst Waterland has a huge experience in facilitating the buy & build strategy, can provide ample financial resources and is able to provide solid strategic support, hence a perfect combination”. The founding and current shareholders of Rotom Europe remain on board as co-shareholders together with Waterland. The transaction is still subject to merger clearance in the Netherlands and Poland.

Categories: News

Tags:

HCI Completes Sale of Go To Logistics

HCI Equity Partners

May 17, 2021, Northlake, IL

HCI Equity Partners announced the sale of Go To Logistics (“Go To” or the “Company”) to Stellex Capital Management on May 4, 2021. Stellex Capital Management is a private equity firm that invests in middle-market companies in North America and Europe. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Headquartered outside of Chicago, Illinois, Go To Logistics is a transportation and logistics service provider focused on the freight consolidation and LTL (less-than-truckload) market. Go To provides services ranging from expedited and guaranteed service to warehoused consolidation, primarily from Chicago to the Northeast and West Coast, as well as the Southwest. The Company’s capacity-driven, point-to-point consolidation business model allows for exceptional service and expedited capabilities at a low cost. Go To has a diverse customer base with a heavy focus on the food and beverage sector.

“We are proud of the work we did with our partners Tom and Greg to build Go To into one of the leading transportation providers in its markets and channels. The HCI team is pleased with the outcome of our investment and think Stellex will be a great partner for the business going forward,” stated HCI Managing Partner Dan Dickinson.

G2 Capital Advisors served as the financial advisor and Jones Day served as legal counsel to Go To Logistics.

Categories: News

Tags:

Priveq Investment divests 21grams to Unifiedpost Group

Priveq

Priveq Investment IV (”Priveq”) has, after a successful ownership period including three add-on acquisitions, entry into new geographies and a broadened service offering, together with the other owners divested 21grams (“21grams”) to the Belgian fintech company Unifiedpost Group.

 21grams serves companies handling large volumes of communication to optimize and digitalize these volumes to strengthen the companies’ businesses and customer relations. Headquartered in Stockholm 21grams has about 70 employees and revenue of approximately 770 MSEK. Customers include AGA, Länsförsäkringar, Rädda Barnen, ST1, Tele2, Unicef and Vasakronan.

Under Priveq’s ownership, 21grams has grown organically and through several acquisitions that has established the company into new geographies and with a broadened service offering. Revenue has grown from approximately 500 MSEK at the time of Priveq’s investment to approximately 770 MSEK today, with increased profitability.

Through 21grams innovative and agile culture the company’s offering has developed well according to increased digitalisation and demand for payment solutions. From the digital offering originally representing a small share of the product mix, the company today handles about every fourth e-invoice in Sweden.

”21grams has been developing strongly during our time as owner. The company has through its ability to innovate and its perceptiveness to its customers continued to grow and build on its already strong position. Through Unifiedpost Group’s acquisition of 21grams new opportunities to strengthen the customer value and to continue as a platform for Nordic expansion arise. 21grams’ great culture and committed employees has been of uttermost importance for our successful journey” says Louise Nilsson, Partner at Priveq Advisory AB, advisor to Priveq Investment IV and retiring board member of 21grams.

”Together with Priveq we have created structure and put down the foundation for a continued strong growth journey into new markets and new offerings. We are very pleased with the Priveq-cooperation throughout the years, especially with regards to acquisitions and strategy. The 21grams management team is excited about Unifiedpost Groups strong growth agenda that will support us in taking the next step in 21grams’ journey” says Stefan Blomqvist, CEO of 21grams.

 

For additional information contact:
Louise Nilsson, Partner and Investment Manager, Priveq Advisory AB
Tel: +46 (0)709 50 95 50
louise.nilsson@priveq.se

Stefan Blomqvist, CEO, 21grams
Tel. + 46 (0)76 808 21 21
stefan.blomqvist@21grams.com

Categories: News

Tags:

Olinn, a European professional equipment management group backed by Argos Wityu, announces the acquisition of Rentys, a specialist in operational leasing based in Belgium.

Argoswityu

This acquisition enables Olinn to become a leading provider of operational leasing in Belgium, with nearly 800 customers and 40 million euros of technological assets under management.

Neuilly-Sur-Seine, France, 18 January 2021 – Olinn, a specialist in equipment management and financing solutions (sourcing, operational leasing, stock management, fleet management, refurbishment, recycling) in the IT, mobile telephony, vehicle, medical equipment, and manufacturing sectors, announces the acquisition of Rentys, an independent leader in operational leasing based in Belgium.

Founded in 2001 by Christophe Maréchal, Rentys has enjoyed regular growth while expanding into IT operational leasing for the Private Business and Public Institution market and has already funded more than 150 million euros’ worth of technological equipment.

This acquisition is part of the Group’s development strategy and will turn Olinn into a leading provider of operational leasing in Belgium, with nearly 800 customers and 40 million euros of technological assets under management.

Olinn currently has 200 employees generating nearly €175m in turnover and managing more than €500m of assets in Europe. To build a closer partnership with its customers, Olinn has expanded its geographic coverage throughout France, and has added six European subsidiaries in Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Germany, Italy and Spain.

Arnaud Deymier, President of the Olinn Group: “With Rentys, the Olinn Group is gaining expertise that is unmatched in Belgium, as well as strong relationships with partners, customers and financial institutions. Combining our offerings and skills will allow us to sustain both companies’ activities, increase our visibility, and create the conditions for strong growth, thanks to our dynamic and dedicated team.”

Christophe Maréchal, CEO of Rentys: “We are very happy to be joining the Olinn Group. Combining our respective skills will allow us to quickly provide new solutions and new services to all our customers. Like many of our colleagues in Europe, we realised that we needed to enter a new phase to consolidate our position and continue our development. The idea of joining forces with Olinn arose naturally.”

Karel Kroupa, Managing Partner at Argos Wityu, concludes: « The combination of Rentys and Olinn is fully in line with the Group’s European development strategy as led by Arnaud Deymier and his teams. This will enable clients to benefit from the complementary offers and skills of the two companies. »

– – –

Argos Wityu team: Karel Kroupa, Thomas Ribéreau, Vincent Yacoub

List of advisors

Olinn advisors
Legal: August Debouzy (Julien Aucomte, Olivier Moriceau, Laure Khemiri, Leslie Ginape, Maxime Legourd), Deloitte (Werner Van Lembergen, Jean-Philippe de Vinck)
Financial: Deloitte (Hrisa Nacea, Thibault Guglieri, Charline Borsus, Davy Simonneau, Armelle Bosset)
Tax: Deloitte (Wim Eynatten, Mathieu Henderikx), Arsene (Franck Chaminade, Charles Dalarun)
M&A : Degroof Petercam (Frédéric Hébrard, Florent De Liedekerke)

Seller advisors
Legal: Koan Law (Pierre Willemart – Elisabeth Bousmar)
M&A et Financier : PWC (Xavier Suin – Rodrigue Platteau – Guillaume Desrues – Célestin François – Quentin Janssens)

Contact Argos Wityu
Coralie Cornet
Communications Director
ccc@argos.fund
+33 1 53 67 20 63

About Argos Wityu
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 €1bn under management and 30 years of experience, Argos Wityu operates from offices in Brussels, Frankfurt, Geneva, Luxembourg, Milan and Paris.

About Olinn
www.olinn.eu
Olinn, a European professional equipment management group, supports the development of companies and public bodies by thinking globally and sustainably.
Olinn remains involved during the entire life cycle of the equipment and offers solutions that incorporate sourcing, financing and associated services, including restoration and reconditioning.
With Olinn, companies combine performance with responsibility by choosing appropriate technology beachyspharmacy.com investment strategies rooted in a CSR approach.
With 200 employees, 60 of whom are disabled, the company generated revenues of €165m in 2019.
The group operates in 7 European countries with a network of 18 areas covering France, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Italy and Spain.
Almost 4,500 customers currently use the group’s comprehensive services.
Each year, Olinn has:

  • €450m of assets (IT, Mobile, Medical, Industrial, and Vehicles) under management,
  • more than €2bn of equipment financed,
  • 180,000 smartphones under management
  • fleet of 4,500 vehicles
  • 250,000 items of IT equipment reconditioned annually, saving 31Mkg of greenhouse gases.

Categories: News

Tags:

Kinnevik participates in funding round in Budbee lead by AMF

Kinnevik

Kinnevik AB (publ) (“Kinnevik”) today announced an investment of SEK 105m in a SEK 525m funding round in Budbee, the Swedish logtech company offering sustainable, last mile delivery services for e-commerce. The round is led by AMF, one of Sweden’s leading pension companies, one of the largest owners on Nasdaq Stockholm and one of Kinnevik’s largest shareholders.

Budbee is the market leader in home delivery services in Sweden, with operations also across Finland, Denmark, and the Netherlands. Budbee has solved the last mile challenge through a purpose-built technology platform offering a new level of convenience for e-commerce customers, and in a sustainable way. Merchants who choose the service as their default delivery method have seen customers increasing their average order value and purchase frequency; and the service is used by major brands such as ASOS, Zalando, and H&M.

Budbee was founded by Fredrik Hamilton in 2015 on the back of his frustration of the inefficiency of last mile delivery services. The company has grown rapidly and currently delivers over a million parcels per month. In December 2020, the company increased the number of deliveries by over 200 percent compared to December 2019. The company expects to accelerate growth further in 2021 with the new funding round, mainly focusing on international expansion and product innovation.

The funding round was led by AMF which is one of Sweden’s leading pension companies, one of the largest owners on Nasdaq Stockholm and one of Kinnevik’s largest shareholders. With the investment of SEK 240m AMF becomes one of Budbee’s largest shareholders. Kinnevik first invested in Budbee in 2018 and is the company’s largest owner. In addition to AMF and Kinnevik, current investors Stena Sessan and H&M also participated in the funding round.

Kinnevik’s CEO Georgi Ganev commented: “Last mile delivery is key to customer satisfaction in e-commerce, and Fredrik and his team has built Budbee into the go-to option for a frictionless last-mile delivery experience across its markets. We are excited to partner with AMF, also a co-owner in MatHem, in this funding round to continue Budbee’s successful expansion in new and existing markets, as well as the expansion of its product suite Budbee Boxes”.

For further information, visit www.kinnevik.com or contact:

Torun Litzén, Director Investor Relations
Phone +46 (0)70 762 00 50
Email press@kinnevik.com

Kinnevik is an industry focused investment company with an entrepreneurial spirit. Our purpose is to make people’s lives better by providing more and better choice. In partnership with talented founders and management teams we build challenger businesses that use disruptive technology to address material, everyday consumer needs. As active owners, we believe in delivering both shareholder and social value by building long-term sustainable businesses that contribute positively to society. We invest in Europe, with a focus on the Nordics, the US, and selectively in other markets. Kinnevik was founded in 1936 by the Stenbeck, Klingspor and von Horn families. Kinnevik’s shares are listed on Nasdaq Stockholm’s list for large cap companies under the ticker codes KINV A and KINV B.

Attachment

Categories: News

Tags:

Ivanhoé Cambridge and PAG launch a Japan Logistics Venture with $400M of Investment Capacity

Cdpq

Ivanhoé Cambridge and PAG are pleased to announce the launch of a new Japan Logistics Venture, with a capacity to deploy up to US$400M for logistics assets in Japan. The new platform will develop and acquire for longer-term hold high-quality core logistics facilities especially in urban and last mile locations.

George Agethen, Senior Vice-president Asia-Pacific at Ivanhoé Cambridge, said: “Logistics has proven to be highly resilient during this pandemic and will remain a key focus in the coming years, especially in Asia Pacific, where we are already invested in Singapore, Australia, China, India and Indonesia. We’re delighted to launch this new investment strategy in Japan and this venture will significantly accelerate our capacity to grow and diversify our portfolio in this key Asian market.”

“This Partnership continues the roll-out of our global conviction for logistics, and in that global context, these chosen target cities in Japan are attractive as they are highly urbanized, have low vacancies and there is significant room to grow in their e-commerce penetration rates”, he added.

“We have a great respect for Ivanhoé Cambridge as investors, and we are very pleased to be deepening our relationship with them,” said Jon Paul Toppino, PAG Group President and Managing Partner of PAG Real Estate. “PAG has been investing in Japan real estate since 1997, with a comprehensive knowledge of local markets and a strong track record. We expect the logistics sector in Japan to remain a durable and attractive opportunity, and we look forward to working with Ivanhoé Cambridge as they continue to grow their portfolio in the region.”

E-commerce keeps driving demand for logistics facilities and remains in an expansionary mode in Japan, where the stock of modern, high-grade logistics properties is scarce and in high demand. The venture will take advantage of these strong fundamentals and address third party logistic tenants’ increasing demand for high quality space in greater Tokyo and greater Osaka, with potential for tactical investments in greater Nagoya.The new venture will assemble and operate a diversified portfolio of logistics properties through the acquisition of both income producing and development assets.

The venture will have over US$400 million in investment capacity and has already identified a pipeline of opportunities for its investment program. It will be governed by an investment committee composed of Ivanhoé Cambridge, as majority shareholder in the venture, and PAG, which will operationally manage the venture.

This joint venture reinforces the strategic partnership between Ivanhoé Cambridge and PAG, which started with a first investment in 2017.

Ivanhoé Cambridge holds a global, diversified real estate portfolio of approximately C$64 billion AUM across 5 continents, primarily in the industrial and logistics, office, residential and retail sectors.

About Ivanhoé Cambridge

Ivanhoé Cambridge develops and invests in high-quality real estate properties, projects and companies that are shaping the urban fabric in dynamic cities around the world. It does so responsibly, with a view to generate long-term performance. Ivanhoé Cambridge is committed to creating living spaces that foster the well-being of people and communities, while reducing its environmental footprint.

Ivanhoé Cambridge invests internationally alongside strategic partners and major real estate funds that are leaders in their markets. Through subsidiaries and partnerships, the Company holds interests in more than 1,000 buildings, primarily in the industrial and logistics, office, residential and retail sectors. Ivanhoé Cambridge held C$64 billion in real estate assets as at December 31, 2019 and is a real estate subsidiary of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (cdpq.com), one of Canada’s leading institutional fund managers. For more information: ivanhoecambridge.com.

About PAG

PAG is one of the world’s largest Asia -focused private investment firms, with experience across asset classes and market cycles. PAG’s 200 investment professionals have deep experience in their local markets, working out of nine key offices in Asia and around the world. PAG Real Estate has been an active investor in Asia since 1997, with more than $31 billion in capital invested in nearly 7,000 properties. PAG currently manages US$40 billion in capital on behalf of more than 150 leading institutional investors from Europe, North America, Asia, Australia and the Middle East. For more information please visit www.pag.com.

For more information

Ivanhoé Cambridge Public Affairs +1 866-456-3342 media@ivanhoecambridge.com

Categories: News

Tags:

H.I.G. Capital Invests in Makios Logistics

H.I.G. Europe

LONDON – January 7, 2021 – H.I.G. Capital, LLC (“H.I.G.”), a leading global alternative investment firm with $43 billion of equity capital under management, announced today that one of its affiliates has invested in Makios Logistics SA (Makios or the “Company”) a leading provider of integrated logistics services and a market leader in temperature-controlled warehousing in Greece.

Founded in 1927, the Company is strategically located next to the port of Thessaloniki. Makios currently owns and operates two state of the art logistics assets in Thessaloniki and also owns logistics assets and land north of Athens with significant expansion potential. As a result of its special custom status, the Company is strongly positioned to increase its share of international trade flows.

Riccardo Dallolio, Managing Director and Head of H.I.G. Europe Realty Partners, commented: “This marks our 9th Industrial & logistics real estate investment in Europe. The sector continues to be an attractive asset class for H.I.G. driven by strong investment fundamentals and secular tailwinds. More specifically, the Piraeus and Thessaloniki ports are two key logistics hubs not only at a national but also at a European level and we believe Makios is strongly positioned to capture an increasing share of trade flows”.

Stelios Theodosiou, Principal at H.I.G. Europe Realty Partners, added: “We are partnering with the Company and its management as the ideal platform to grow and execute on H.I.G.’s logistics strategy in the region. Makios already possesses state of the art facilities and systems and together with H.I.G.’s hands-on operational approach, we plan to grow it into a regional champion. This transaction is another example of our ability to source off-market deals with significant value-add potential. We look forward to supporting the Makios team through the Company’s next exciting phase of organic and inorganic growth”.

About H.I.G. Capital
H.I.G. is a leading global private equity and alternative assets investment firm with $43 billion of equity capital under management.* Based in Miami, and with offices in New York, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Atlanta in the U.S., as well as international affiliate offices in London, Hamburg, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Bogotá, H.I.G. specializes in providing both debt and equity capital to small and mid-sized companies, utilizing a flexible and operationally focused/value-added approach:

  1. H.I.G.’s equity funds invest in management buyouts, recapitalizations and corporate carve-outs of both profitable as well as underperforming manufacturing and service businesses.
  2. H.I.G.’s debt funds invest in senior, unitranche and junior debt financing to companies across the size spectrum, both on a primary (direct origination) basis, as well as in the secondary markets. H.I.G. is also a leading CLO manager, through its WhiteHorse family of vehicles, and manages a publicly traded BDC, WhiteHorse Finance.
  3. H.I.G.’s real estate funds invest in value-added properties, which can benefit from improved asset management practices.

Since its founding in 1993, H.I.G. has invested in and managed more than 300 companies worldwide. The firm’s current portfolio includes more than 100 companies with combined sales in excess of $30 billion. For more information, please refer to the H.I.G. website at www.higcapital.com.

* Based on total capital commitments managed by H.I.G. Capital and affiliates.

Categories: News

Tags:

AURELIUS subsidiary NDS Group AS acquires Norwegian distributor Sola Shipping AS

Aurelius Capital

Munich/Oslo, December 23, 2020 – The NDS Group AS, a subsidiary of AURELIUS Equity Opportunities SE & Co. KGaA (ISIN: DE000A0JK2A8), acquires the Norwegian marine distributor Sola Shipping AS, one of Norway’s leading distributors of marine chemicals and boat care products. This first add-on acquisition confirms the growth strategy of the NDS Group and further increases the share in the Norwegian market. The transaction also underlines Aurelius’ strategy to strengthen its portfolio companies via add-ons.

Sola Shipping AS offers a wide range of marine supplies to over 800 customers in Norway. The assortment ranges from antifouling, paint, and chemicals, over to service parts, boat care, and consumables. The company is an exclusive distributor of the brand “Seajet” in Norway with market leading products.

The highly complementary product portfolios will be integrated into the existing marine business unit of the NDS Group. Customers of both companies will greatly benefit from the combined business that is built on the nation-wide logistic infrastructure of the NDS Group.

“The acquisition of Sola Shipping AS confirms the growth strategy to continue the new era as a one-stop-shop distribution and service provider in the Nordic region” says NDS Group CEO Janno Gröne. “We are confident that the NDS Group will also benefit from synergies of this add-on acquisition”.

Leif Lupp, Managing Director Aurelius Nordics: “After having executed the carve-out of NDS, Aurelius’ operations organisation has implemented substantial operational improvements. We have also invested significantly in topline growth, as evidenced by our new customer wins in 2020. With the acquisition of Sola Shipping, the next phase of the Aurelius value creation model has now been launched. We are looking forward to continuously growing NDS through acquisitions, in Norway as well as throughout the Nordics.”

The transaction was completed on December 23, 2020.

Aurelius was advised on the transaction by Handelsbanken (Financial), Schjødt (Legal) as well as KPMG (Tax).

Categories: News

Tags:

Fast Group partners with CVC to expand logistics operations

Investing through CVC Capital Partners Asia IV, CVC will support Fast’s further expansion across the Philippines.

The Fast Group, a leading end-to-end logistics group in the Philippines, today announced that it has finalized its partnership with leading global private equity firm CVC Capital Partners. Investing through CVC Capital Partners Asia IV, CVC will support Fast’s continued development and further expansion across the Philippines.

Founded by the Chiongbian Family, Fast has been steadily growing for over four decades, from its roots in William Lines, a publicly listed shipping company in the 1990s, to become a leader in end-to-end logistics. The business delivers supply chain solutions that meet the world-class standards and requirements of multinationals and large organisations operating in the Philippines, while at the same time nurturing its strong roots with the local communities in which the business operates.

CVC is a leading global private equity company, with a long track record of building businesses in Asia, having been active in the region for over 20 years. This deep experience will be essential in accelerating Fast’s growth and increasing its footprint through mergers and acquisitions, and in the digitalization of its logistics operations through investments in technology.

William Chiongbian, Group President and CEO of Fast Group commented: “Fast is the market leader in the growing Philippine logistics sector, our clients greatly value our broad offering which spans the entire supply chain from logistics and warehousing, to distribution and transportation. The investment in Fast by CVC is a testament to the attractiveness and potential of the Philippine logistics sector, the market leading business we have built over the last four decades, and of course the economy more broadly. We are delighted to be partnering with such an experienced investor as we now seek to accelerate our growth.”

Brice Cu, Managing Director, CVC Capital Partners, said: “We are pleased to finalize our partnership with Fast. Having agreed to invest in the business in 2019, we have now been working closely with the business for a year and have made excellent progress on a number of important strategic initiatives, most notably in building a pipeline of attractive acquisition opportunities.”

UBS AG, Singapore Branch acted as exclusive financial adviser to Fast Logistics Group in relation to its partnership with CVC.

Categories: News

Tags: