Heliad Equity Partners GmbH & Co. KGaA / Miscellaneous/Miscellaneous
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++ Heliad acquires a 49% stake in Unicorn Geld- und Wertdienstleistungen
GmbH
++ Participation in one of the largest companies in the area of money and
securities services
Frankfurt, 15 November 2006
Heliad Equity Partners has taken a 49% stake in Unicorn Geld- und
Wertdienstleistungen GmbH ('Unicorn'). The company provides security and
transportation services in the area of cash and security. After the
acquisition of Geld- und Werttransporte GmbH Hannover und Geld- und
Werttransporte GmbH Stuttgart on 12 November 2006 is has become one of the
market leaders in this sector with over 900 staff. With 26 branches, the
company has an efficient logistics network, particularly in Central Germany
and the Stuttgart region and services well-known customers, particularly
from the banking and retail segments. In 2007, the company is targeting
revenues of over EUR 50 million.
Behind Unicorn are well-known names in the industry Hans-Jürgen Michel,
Niels Faergemann and Franz-Josef Deckers, who together hold the remaining
51% of the company. As early as 1977, Hans-Jürgen Michel founded a company
in the area of cash and securities services and developed it to become one
of the biggest market players in the segment before its successful sale to
G4S Securicor in 2000. In subsequent years, as Chairman of the Securicor
International Holding AG Supervisory Board, he accompanied the integration
of the company into the group, before resigning from office in 2006 in
order to establish Unicorn with his partners Niels Faergemann and
Franz-Josef Deckers. Most recently, Niels Faergemann and Franz-Josef
Deckers were Management Board members at Securicor International Holding AG
and Managing Directors of G4S Geld- und Wertdienste Deutschland, with many
years of management experience in the sector.
With the development of Unicorn, the shareholders are following a classical
buy-and-build approach. On the basis of strong organic growth, as well as
well-considered acquisitions, the company is targeting an active role in
the consolidation of the industry. Furthermore, Unicorn can also benefit
from a unique upturn in the security transportation sector. At the
beginning of 2006, the market found itself in a turbulent situation it has
never experienced with the Heros Group applying for insolvency. This
resulted in considerable rethinking among customers. Today the security and
quality aspect prevails above the pure price of the transportation service,
with the result that suppliers can generate higher margins with a resulting
return to stability in the industry. Unicorn’s Managing Director,
Hans-Jürgen Michel, comments, 'We are convinced that the market again need
a strong, medium-sized company among the first three of the industry in
Germany. Reliability, continuity and reliability of the man-agement are the
key factors for the future development at Unicorn.'
For the investment, Heliad is providing €5 million in the form of equity
capital and a partner loan. Heliad’s Managing Director, Ralf Flore, is
satisfied, 'Our EBITDA entry multiplier is somewhat less than 2, calculated
on the basis of 2007. The participation clearly shows that with strict
investment discipline it is possible to find attractive investment
op-tions, even in a private equity environment where there is a high level
of liquidity. We regard Michel, Faergemann and Deckers as excellent
part-ners. They form a complementary team with integrity which will rapidly
and successful develop Unicorn. The Heliad team will also contribute to the
company’s success, particularly with its financing and structuring
ex-pertise.'
Flores colleague Andreas Lange adds, 'Participations such as Unicorn fit
extremely well into our portfolio and form the basis for continuing our
success over the next few years and to at least match the good results of
the current year or even exceed them considerably. For Unicorn we expect a
dynamic development, which should impact strongly on the Heliad annual
result and the Net Asset Value by 2008 at the latest.'
About Heliad
Heliad Equity Partners (WKN: 604 729) is a private equity firm that
concentrates mainly on companies in German-speaking countries. Investments
are made in companies that are in a strong expansion period or special
situation. The aim is to produce an above-average risk/return ratio for the
shareholders. The investor thus intensively participates with Heliad in the
expansion opportunities not only of the traditional German middle class but
also of aspiring German technological companies.
Contact:
Heliad Equity Partners GmbH & Co. KGaA
Christiane Kriesche
Leiterin Marketing & Kommunikation
Grüneburgweg 18
60322 Frankfurt
Tel.: +49(0)69 719 15 965 17
Fax: +49(0)69 719 15 965 17
E-Mail: christiane.kriesche@sigma-capital.de
DGAP 15.11.2006
Language: English
Issuer: Heliad Equity Partners GmbH & Co. KGaA
Grüneburgweg 18
60322 Frankfurt am Main Deutschland
Phone: +49 (0)69 719 15 965 0
Fax: +49(0)69 719 15 965 11
E-mail: christiane.kriesche@sigma-capital.de
WWW: www.heliad.de
ISIN: DE0006047293
WKN: 604729
Indices:
Listed: Geregelter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr
in Berlin-Bremen, München, Stuttgart
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