
Finatem sells Schollenberger to Cobepa-backed Socotec
German buyout firm Finatem Beteiligungsgesellschaft has sold explosive detection firm Schollenberger Group to Cobepa-backed consultant Socotec.
The sale ends a holding period of just under two years for Finatem, which acquired the company with equity from its fourth fund, a €150m vehicle that backs SMEs with sales between €20-125m.
Socotec is a consultant specialising in the construction and infrastructure sectors. It was acquired by private investment holding company Cobepa and Rothschild’s private equity arm Five Arrows in February 2013. The group generates revenues of €700m and employs 7,400 people.
Finatem launched the sale in August with Clearwater advising, according to Unquote sister publication Mergermarket. The asset was marketed based on €8m adjusted EBITDA for 2018, according to Mergermarket.
Previous funding
Finatem backed the buyout of Schollenberger in December 2016, alongside the managing directors, Klaus Loehle and Boris Toeller.
Company
Schollenberger was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Celle. It specialises in civil explosive ordnance detection. For construction in Germany and Austria, removal of explosive ordnance is a legal obligation in the event of any operation in the ground. The company employs 400 people at 10 offices in Germany and Austria and expects revenues of €40m for 2018.
People
Finatem Beteiligungsgesellschaft – Eric Jungblut (partner).
Advisers
Vendor – Clearwater International, Axel Oltmann, Benjamin Bubrowski, Maximilian Hammers, Manuel Erath, Özgür Büber (corporate finance).
Acquirer – Raymond James (corporate finance).
Latest News
Stonehage Fleming raises USD 130m for largest fund to date, eyes 2024 programme
Multi-family office has seen strong appetite, with investor base growing since 2016 to more than 90 family offices, Meiping Yap told Unquote
Permira to take Ergomed private for GBP 703m
Sponsor deploys Permira VIII to ride new wave of take-privates; Blackstone commits GBP 200m in financing for UK-based CRO
Partners Group to release IMs for Civica sale in mid-September
Sponsor acquired the public software group in July 2017 via the same-year vintage Partners Group Global Value 2017
Change of mind: Sponsors take to de-listing their own assets
EQT and Cinven seen as bellweather for funds to reassess options for listed assets trading underwater