CapMan Buyout press release 9 April 2018 at 09.30 a.m. EEST
CapMan Buyout to sell Walki to One Equity Partners
Funds managed by CapMan Buyout have agreed to sell their holdings in Walki Group to private equity company One Equity Partners.
CapMan Buyout funds have continued successful exits from portfolio companies of which Walki Group is the third transaction during the last six months along with the sale of Oral and the IPO of Harvia. As a new portfolio company CapMan Buyout acquired a majority share of KotiSun Group in January 2018.
Walki Group is a leading producer of technical laminates and protective packaging materials, specializing in the production of fibre based, intelligent, multi-layer laminate products for markets as diverse as energy saving construction facings to consumer packaging. Funds managed by CapMan acquired Walki in 2007 and the profitability of the company has developed very favourably during the last years.
“During CapMan’s ownership period Walki has successfully executed its growth strategy, both organically and through acquisitions. Walki has invested in the growing construction laminates segment in Western Europe whilst maintaining its leading position in the industrial packaging market. Walki has also expanded significantly in Eastern Europe. I want to thank Walki’s management and personnel for their hard work. I am convinced that an international private equity player like One Equity Partners with experience from the packaging sector is the right partner for supporting the growth of Walki in the future,” says Anders Björkell, Partner at CapMan Buyout.
“We are very satisfied to have One Equity Partner as the new majority owner. One Equity Partners has a successful track record in developing packaging companies globally and we share a common vision on how to grow Walki into an even stronger company to the benefit of our customers and employees. Further, I would like to thank CapMan for the continuous support during CapMan’s ownership,” says Leif Frilund, President and CEO of Walki Group.
“One Equity Partners is an experienced investor in the packaging industry with a number of successful former investments. With top positions in all of its three business areas Construction, Consumer and Industrial, Walki is poised for future growth. With this acquisition, we leverage our expertise in the industry and form a powerful platform for buy-and-build opportunities in an attractive market”, says Johann-Melchior von Peter, Senior Managing Director at One Equity Partners.
The transaction is subject to the approval of the competition authorities.
For more information, please contact:
Anders Björkell, Partner, CapMan Buyout, tel. +358 40 537 7566
Leif Frilund, President and CEO, Walki Group Ltd, tel. +358 403543330
Norbert Selle, CNC Communications & Network Consulting AG/ One Equity Partners, tel. +49 175 180 5982
CapMan
www.capman.com
@CapManPE
CapMan is a leading Nordic private asset expert with an active approach to value-creation in its target companies and assets. We offer a wide selection of investment products and services. As one of the Nordic private equity pioneers we have developed hundreds of companies and real estate and created substantial value in these businesses and assets over the last 28 years. CapMan has today 118 private equity professionals and manages approximately €2.8 billion in assets under management. We mainly manage the assets of our customers, the investors, but also make investments from our own balance sheet. Our objective is to provide attractive returns and innovative solutions to investors. Our current investment strategies cover Real Estate, Buyout, Russia, Credit, Growth Equity and Infrastructure. We also have a growing service business that currently includes procurement services (CaPS), fundraising advisory (Scala Fund Advisory), and fund management services.
Walki Group Ltd
www.walki.com
Walki Group is a leading producer of technical laminates and protective packaging materials, specializing in the production of fibre based, intelligent, multi-laminate products for markets ranging from energy saving construction facings and construction membranes to bio-based barrier packaging applications. The Group has production plants in Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, the UK, Russia and China with a workforce of about 950 people. Annual net sales for the Group in 2017 were 318 million euros.
One Equity Partners (OEP)
www.oneequity.com
OEP is a middle-market private equity firm focused on the industrial, healthcare, and technology sectors in North America and Europe. The firm builds market-leading companies by identifying and executing transformative business combinations. OEP is a trusted partner with a differentiated investment process, a broad and senior team, and an extensive track record generating long-term value for its partners. Since 2001, the firm has completed more than 150 transactions worldwide. OEP, founded in 2001, spun out of JP Morgan in 2015. The firm has offices in New York, Chicago, and Frankfurt.
