ABN AMRO Participaties (“AAP”) has reached an
agreement to acquire MPS Group B.V., a parent company to MPS Systems BV
(“MPS”), a global leading provider of high-quality versatile, end-to-end narrow
and mid-web printing solutions, from majority shareholder Braver Investments,
Oost NL and the founders of MPS. Wim van den Bosch (CEO), Willem Huijink (CFO)
as well as founders Bert van den Brink and Eric Hoendervangers will remain with
the business and invest alongside AAP.
Headquartered in The Netherlands, MPS is a leading
provider of high-quality versatile, end-to-end narrow and mid-web printing
solutions. The Company’s flexographic (“flexo”), offset and flexo-digital hybrid
printing presses are used in the fast-growing label and flexible packaging
industries, with end-markets such as food & beverage, household
products and pharmaceuticals. The Company is a global top-5 player in its
segment and is well-known for its unmatched quality while offering an
attractive cost of ownership for its clients. MPS’ products are sold on a
global scale with a strong market presence in Europe and increasingly in Asia and
North America. MPS has distinctive strong internal technological know-how and
flexibility that sets the Company apart from its closest competitors. As a
result, for every client’s printing query, MPS has the ability to develop and assemble,
in consultation with the client, the optimal printing solution. MPS’ knowledge
is primarily centered around substrate transportation technology. The Company’s
innovative and proprietary transport technology has a broad application
potential for a variety of printing technologies.
ABN AMRO Participaties is the independently managed
private equity business of ABN AMRO with a focus on investments in Dutch
companies and known for their long-term commitment to their investee companies.
Their funds are fully and solely committed by ABN AMRO.
Wim van den Bosch, CEO of MPS, comments: “In the
past few years under the ownership of Braver Investment and Oost NL, MPS has gone through a
strong development from a product, a financial and an organizational point of
view. MPS is now ready to enter into a new growth phase to become a top-3
player in the market. MPS therefore started looking for a new strong
shareholder that is able and willing to support MPS in realizing and
accelerating its business plan. I am convinced that with the support of AAP we
will be able to achieve our ambitious growth target the coming years.”
Excited about working together
Friso Janmaat, Managing Director of ABN AMRO
Participaties explains, “MPS is an excellent example of a successful Dutch
company with a highly technical great product, a strong management team and potential
for growth. We’re excited about working together with the company and its
management team during the years ahead to realise its growth plans.
Marius Prins, CEO of Oost NL comments: “we have
been shareholder of MPS from the start of the company in 1996 by Eric
Hoendervangers and Bert van den Brink. During the last years we have seen MPS
grow up from a local start-up to a globally successful company, that provides
many jobs to the region where we are active. We are convinced that MPS will
become the top 3 player that they are aiming for.
Gerard Brand, Partner at Braver Investments, comments, “In MPS Braver Investments acquired a great business with a world class management team. We are pleased with the way MPS has developed. Having completed our development plans for MPS we are confident MPS will continue to prosper under AAPs ownership.”
Gerard Brand, Partner at Braver Investments, comments, “In MPS Braver Investments acquired a great business with a world class management team. We are pleased with the way MPS has developed. Having completed our development plans for MPS we are confident MPS will continue to prosper under AAPs ownership.”
