Corpfin sells Secna to EQT's Chr Hansen

The sale ends a six-year holding period for Corpfin, which bought a 51% stake in the company via its €255m Corpfin Capital Fund IV in an MBO. Under Corpfin's ownership, the business boosted its international presence, expanded its customer base and developed new products.

This is the first add-on inked by Chr Hansen following EQT's acquisition. The GP carved out the Natural Colors division of Danish bioscience company Christian Hansen (Chr Hansen) for €800m in September 2020. The GP is deployed equity from EQT IX, which closed on €15.6bn in April 2021.

Headquartered in Denmark, Natural Colors is a manufacturer of natural colouring ingredients, serving 1,600 customers in the food and beverages industry. Employing 650 people, the company generates EBITDA of €50m from annual revenues of around €225m.

With this bolt-on, Chr Hansen plans to further bolster its market position in the natural colours industry and expand its product offering with the addition of Secna's pigment portfolio, which includes anthocyanins from plants and fruit. 

Company
Based in Valencia, Secna specialises in the production of dyes from natural ingredients, such as grapes, carrots and caramel, for the food industry. 

The business employs 100 staff across its branches and production facilities located in Spain, Italy and Turkey.

People
Secna – Gabriel Muñoz (CEO).
Chr Hansen Natural Colors – Odd Erik Hansen (CEO).

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