VR Equitypartner's Kälte Eckert buys SOS Kältetechnik

Harriet Matthews
24 November 2020

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Refrigeration systems business Kälte Eckert, a portfolio company of VR Equitypartner, has acquired Germany-based SOS Kältetechnik.

Alexander Stiegler Iurato, CEO and former sole owner of SOS Kältetechnik, will remain in his management position.

The add-on is backed in part by additional equity from VR Equitypartner.

The deal marks the third add-on in the past year and is also the third acquisition made by the company since VR Equitypartner acquired Kälte Eckert in 2017; the business has previously acquired market peers Günther Kältetechnik and Gartner Keil.

At the time of its investment, VR Equitypartner announced that it intended to follow a buy-and-build strategy for the company. Kälte Eckert initially employed 30 people and reported revenues of €10m.

Asked about the current buy-and-build strategy, a spokesperson for VR Equitypartner told Unquote: "We are primarily looking at targets of comparable size to the previous ones, but do not necessarily exclude larger ones from our considerations. There is no set number of targets, as long as the prospective ones are strategically viable. Our geographical focus is southern Germany, as well as the Rhein-Ruhr region. We will also focus on expanding the service network and building up additional know-how in the area of natural coolant technology and equipment."

Company
Founded in 1998, SOS Kältetechnik is based in Königsdorf. The company installs refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump systems for commercial and private customers.

People
VR Equitypartner – Christian Futterlieb (managing director).
SOS Kältetechnik – Alexander Stiegler Iurato (CEO).
Kälte Eckert – Holger Eckert (CEO).

Advisers
Acquirer – Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek, Rainer Herschlein, Charlotte Schmitt (legal); Helmer & Partner, Rüdiger Friess (financial due diligence, tax); Sternbeis Consulting Mergers & Acquisitions, Ulrich Praßler (M&A); RALA Consulting, Rainhardt Lange (M&A); Bocon Unternehmensberatung, Michael Böddeker (M&A).