Article by Prof. Dr. rer. pol. Christian Timmreck

IMAP releases coveted IMAP Trends in Global M&A 2018 & 2019 Survey

The report is based on the results of a survey undertaken at the end of 2018, whereby IMAP partners across the world were asked for their views on the M&A markets in 2018, as well as their expectations for 2019.

Review of a successful year 2018

IMAP was able to increase the number of successfully completed transactions in 2018: from 204 to 208 deals worldwide and from 20 to 25 transactions in Germany. This puts IMAP again among the top 10 M&A advisors for deals up to USD 500m in the Thomson Reuters ranking.

IMAP strengthens its hold in mid-market closing 208 deals in 2018 worth over $10bn

IMAP released its 2018 results today, announcing an increase in deals closed over the previous year, having closed 208 deals in 2018 worth over $10bn. Average disclosed deal value came in at $62.2 million, as IMAP continues to strengthen its mid-market credentials.

IMAP advises shareholders of KW-Kranwerke AG on the sale to Nimbus

The German-Dutch industrial holding nimbus hands-on investors has acquired Mannheim-based KW-Kranwerke AG (KWM).

IMAP advises Lampe Privatinvest on the sale of von Oertzen GmbH to Possehl subsidiary Hako

Lampe Privatinvest has sold von Oertzen GmbH, a leading solution provider of high-pressure water jetting systems for industrial customers, to Hako, a subsidiary of the Possehl Group.

IMAP advises Bamberger Kaliko on the acquisition by an investor team of Kufner Group and VMS

Kufner Holding GmbH ("Kufner Group") and the investment company VMS-REB 3 Beteiligungen GmbH ("VMS") acquire the traditional textile finisher Bamberger Kaliko Textile Finishing GmbH ("Bamberger Kaliko") by means of an insolvency plan.

Degroof Petercam joins IMAP as exclusive partner for Belgium and France

Degroof Petercam Investment Banking (DPIB) and IMAP have entered into a strategic partnership. Under the terms of the agreement, DPIB will act as IMAP’s exclusive corporate finance partner for M&A activities in Belgium and France as from January 2019. In Spain, DPIB will closely collaborate with IMAP Spain, Albia Capital Partners.

Mid-market companies have the edge in innovative disruption says new IMAP publication

IMAP dedicates the latest edition of its flagship Creating Value publication launched today, to a subject that should have every CEO’s focus; disruptive innovation.

IMAP advises Palas GmbH on sale to Brockhaus Capital Management AG

Brockhaus Capital Management AG ("BCM") acquires a majority stake in Karlsruher Palas GmbH Partikel- und Lasermeßtechnik ("Palas"), a provider of technologically leading high-precision devices for measuring, characterizing and generating particles in air, particularly in the field of fine dust and nanoparticles.

IMAP advises Schiller Group on sale to VESCON Automation Group

As part of a succession plan, VESCON Automation Group GmbH, majority owned by Quadriga Capital, acquires a majority stake in the Lower Bavarian Schiller Group.

IMAP advises Inobas on sale to software provider STP

The shareholders of Inobas, a provider of structured data products, have sold their shares to STP Informationstechnologie AG.

2018 IMAP Fall Conference in Miami

Over 90 delegates from IMAP member firms representing 32 countries congregated in Miami on October 25th - 27th for IMAP’s 2018 Fall conference.  The conference was hosted by Falls River Group, IMAP’s partner firm in Florida, and was set around the theme of ‘Disruptive Innovation’.

IMAP advises ECOSOIL Holding on the sale of its industrial services activities to FAM

Effective September 1st 2018, the Magdeburg (Germany) based conveyor systems specialist FAM has acquired the industrial services activities of the ECOSOIL Group, a portfolio company belonging to Endurance Capital AG - a German holding company focused on small and medium sized enterprises.

IMAP Netherlands attends OEEC and launches IMAP’s 2018 Oil & Gas Sector Report

IMAP advises Trumpler Group on the acquisition of Langro-Chemie

Trumpler Group, headquartered in Worms, Germany, has signed an agreement with the shareholders to acquire the assets of Langro-Chemie Theo Lang GmbH and its foreign affiliates.

IMAP Deal Summary Q1-Q3 2018

IMAP Germany advises Invision on the sale of Kraft & Bauer to DBAG

IMAP's Analysts & Associates meeting held in Zagreb

IMAP Germany advises on the sale of MAAS Profile GmbH

IMAP Germany advises shareholders of SemVox on the sale to paragon

Two new transactions again confirm the sector expertise of IMAP Germany in the real estate sector

IMAP advises shareholders on the sale of Aqua Vital to Culligan Water

Halder Beteiligungsberatung GmbH and the other co-partners have sold Aqua Vital, the German market leader for drinking water dispensers in the commercial sector, to US-American Culligan Water. The leading international provider of water treatment solutions is a portfolio company of Advent International.

IMAP Germany advises KRUPPERT Hotel-Mietwäsche-Service on the sale of a majority stake to Ufenau Capital Partners

IMAP advises the shareholders of Mayer-Kuvert-network GmbH on the entry of a family office

Mayer-Kuvert-network GmbH ("Mayer-Kuvert-network") has expanded its group of shareholders in the course of a capital increase to include a German family office, which will also become the new majority shareholder.

IMAP Germany advises MAAS Baustoffe on its sale to a group of strategic investors

MAAS Baustoffe GmbH obtains a new owner. As part of MAAS Group's insolvency proceedings, the building materials trade with its ten sites has been sold to MAAS Bauzentrum GmbH.

2018 IMAP Spring Conference in Warsaw

The 2018 IMAP Spring Conference was held from 12th until 14th of April in Warsaw in Poland. The event was hosted by Trigon, IMAP's partner firm in Poland.

Two new partners join IMAP in Germany

On April 1, 2018, two new partners joined IMAP in Germany: Michael Knoll (53) and Marco Strogusch (43).

Burkhard Weber joins IMAP as Partner

Dr. Burkhard Weber joined the partners group of IMAP in Germany as of March 1, 2018 as co-head Industrials with specialist expertise in machinery and plant engineering, capital goods, building products as well as pulp & paper.

IMAP Germany advises the shareholders of PROHOGA Group on the sale to Rieker Investment

2017: a successful year for IMAP

191 completed transactions worldwide (20 in Germany). Transaction value increases significantly to USD 12 billion. 36% cross-border deals (40% in Germany). Established among the Top 10 M&A advisors worldwide.

IMAP Germany advised insolvent MAAS Group on its sale of BEMO Systems Engineering

IMAP advised MAAS Group as part of their insolvency proceedings on the sale of its subsidiary BEMO Systems Engineering GmbH (BEMO).

IMAP advises shareholders of Indian NCL Wintech on the sale of its majority stake to the VEKA Group

The VEKA Group from North Rhine-Westphalia has acquired a majority stake in NCL Wintech Ltd., a subsidiary of the Indian NCL Group. The company will continue as a joint venture and operationally independent unit.

RUBIKON Industriebeteiligungen acquires a majority stake in DYNAJET

LEO Familienholding has sold a majority stake in DYNAJET GmbH, a leading supplier of water jetting systems up to 3,000 bar, to RUBIKON Industriebeteiligungen GmbH.

IMAP advised Masisa S.A. on the sale of their industrial operation in Argentina to EGGER Group

As a result of its strategic plan to focus on the forestry business and in the higher value-added distribution of wood panels in the Andean Region, Central and North America and other export markets, Masisa S.A. Chile decided to start the sale process of its industrial assets in Argentina, Brazil and Mexico.

IMAP advises NOE-Schaltechnik on the entry of NIMBUS

NOE-Schaltechnik Georg Meyer-Keller GmbH + Co. KG (NOE) has expanded its group of shareholders by acquiring Dutch industrial holding company NIMBUS as part of a capital increase.

IMAP in Germany advises Chinese SEC Holding Co., Ltd. on the acquisition of VEM Group

The Chinese family holding SEC has acquired 100% of the shares in VEM Group in Dresden, a traditional manufacturer of electric drive systems, special motors and machines, from the entrepreneurial family Merckle, including all current locations in Germany and abroad.

IMAP advises owners of Kohl group on the sale of three divisions to acquisition consortium of Endurance Capital and AL-KO KOBER

Endurance Capital AG and AL-KO KOBER SE will jointly acquire the three divisions Automotive, Metal Parts Manufacturing and Railway Technology division of the Cologne-based metal processing company Kohl-Gruppe AG.

IMAP Germany advises financial investor Nimbus on the sale of RCP Ranstadt

The family office Zobel Values AG has acquired the packaging specialist RCP Ranstadt GmbH from the Dutch financial investor Nimbus hands-on investors, who has successfully realigned the company over the last eight years.

IMAP Germany advises Aluminiumwerk Unna on the acquisition by Chinese Zhongwang Holding

Zhongwang Aluminum Deutschland GmbH acquired Aluminiumwerk Unna AG, leading manufacturer of aluminum alloy tubes, headquartered in Unna close to Dortmund. The investor is a subsidiary of China Zhongwang Holding Ltd., headquartered in Beijing – the listed company is Asia’s largest manufacturer and developer of aluminum extrusion products.

IMAP Germany advised greeting card manufacturer HORN on the sale to the Dutch Nedac Sorbo Group

The IMAP team for M&A transactions in special situations advised Albert Horn Söhne GmbH & Co. KG (HORN), a traditional greetings card manufacturer, during their insolvency proceedings, on the sale of its business operations.

IMAP in Germany: Successful start to its 20th anniversary year

In the first half of the year, the M&A consulting firm was able to successfully close 10 transactions, including the sale of the sports and dietary nutrition provider Well Plus Trade to HQ Equita or the acquisition of the electrical machinery manufacturer VEM for a Chinese family business.

IMAP in Germany advised founder of THG Baugesellschaft on the sale of shares to EUROVIA / VINCI S.A.

As part of its succession planning, the Founder and Managing Partner of THG Baugesellschaft mbH, Rainer Klinkhammer, has sold company shares to EUROVIA GmbH (Germany).

IMAP in Germany advised Karl Reichenbach GmbH on the sale to Lampe Privatinvest

IMAP successfully advised the owners of Karl Reichenbach GmbH, manufacturer of rubber parts, headquartered in Durmersheim near Karlsruhe, on the sale of majority shares to Lampe Privatinvest.

IMAP in Germany advised Awetis GmbH on the sale of their IT-division to Freudenberg

The IMAP team for M&A transactions in special situations, advised Awetis GmbH (AWETIS) during their insolvency proceedings in self-administration, on the sale of its subsidiary Awetis Systems GmbH & Co. KG. Freudenberg Group, headquartered in Weinheim, acquired 100% of the shares.

IMAP in Germany advised Onlime GmbH on the sale of its satellite services business unit to CETel

IMAP has advised Onlime GmbH and its UK based shareholder, Onlime Group Limited, a leading operator of fiber and satellite telecommunication networks, on the sale of its globally managed satellite services to the German telecommunications provider CETel (Central European Telecom Services GmbH).

IMAP advises Stelter Zahnradfabrik GmbH on its investment in ZWP Zahnradwerk Pritzwalk GmbH

Stelter Zahnradfabrik GmbH has taken over minority shares in Zahnradwerk Pritzwalk GmbH, based in Pritzwalk (Brandenburg). The main shareholder is the Berlin-based Andreas & Peiffer Group.

IMAP advises HENGE Group on the acquisition of KOMINEX

The HENGE Group acquires the business activities of KOMINEX Mineralmahlwerk GmbH, including the location and production facility in Falkenstein, Saxony-Anhalt and will continue activities under the name KOMINEX Minerals + Processing.

Florian Böschen joins IMAP

Florian Böschen joined IMAP in Germany as a Director in March 2017. He is responsible for the structuring and implementation of national and international buy and sell mandates, as well as financing consulting mandates in the real estate sector.

IMAP advises Rotkäppchen-Mumm on the acquisition of the Italian TOP DOCG Prosecco brand Ruggeri.

Rotkäppchen-Mumm Sektkellereien GmbH acquires the prestigious Italian Prosecco Specialist Ruggeri & C. S.p.A, well known for their award winning Proseccos.

IMAP advises WELL PLUS TRADE on the sale of a majority share to HQ Equita

WELL PLUS TRADE GmbH (WPT), a leading provider of sports and dietary nutrition with well-known brands Power System and Slim System, has been acquired by funds managed by HQ Equita GmbH, a German mid-market investment fund.

2016 Year in Review

2016: Another good year for IMAP. With a total of 174 successfully completed transactions globally – of which 110 in were in Europe and 18 in Germany – IMAP was able to maintain its top 10 ranking among M&A advisory firms in the mid-market segment (enterprise values of up to US$ 500 million).

IMAP advises Felss Group on sale to Capvis

IMAP has advised the owner of Felss Group, a technology leader in the field of cold-forming of hollow parts specifically for the automotive industry, on the sale of a majority stake to Capvis.

IMAP Germany advises Wagner Holding on the acquisition of a minority stake in KTP Kunststoff Palettentechnik

In December 2016, Wagner Holding acquired a 25.01 percent stake in KTP Holding GmbH in the form of a capital increase. KTP will use the additional liquidity to implement the strategic growth plan of the company.

IMAP reinforces its network of partners and expands its cross-border M&A advisory services in special and distressed situations

Since the beginning of January 2017, Henning Graw (40) has been a new Partner at IMAP in Germany, where he is responsible for national and international buy and sell mandates.

IMAP advises on sale of tool specialist Wera to Bitburger Holding

Bitburger Holding acquired 100 % of the shares in Wera Group, headquartered in Wuppertal, from the founding family. Through this acquisition, Bitburger will extend its portfolio of strong brands to the tool sector.

IMAP Germany advises Christian Bernard Group on the Sale of ORO VIVO to THOM Europe

The French jewellery company THOM Europe S.A.S acquired 100% of the shares of the German jewellery chain ORO VIVO AG, from Christian Bernard S.A.S. Following the recent acquisition of Italian jewellery company Stroili, Thom Europe expanded its international reach and presence in the European jewellery and watches market by acquiring ORO VIVO.

IMAP Germany advises shareholders of Stanz- und LaserTechnik Jessen GmbH on the sale to Steadfast Capital Fund III, L.P.

Steadfast Capital Fund III, L.P., has acquired Stanz- und LaserTechnik Jessen GmbH (SLTJ), headquartered in Jessen, (SLTJ) as part of a Management Buy-Out.

IMAP advises Wagner Holding on its investment in Dr. Förster AG

Wagner Holding, VR Equitypartner and its Industry Advisory Board Thomas M. Hübner provide Dr. Förster AG, Neu-Isenburg, a manufacturer of high-quality natural cosmetic products, with a substantial growth capital to secure their long-term financing.

IMAP advises Mubea on the acquisition of INAUXA

IMAP advised Mubea on the successful acquisition of the Spanish automotive supplier INAUXA from Grupo Tudos Reunidos.

IMAP advises Paragon Partners on the sale of AWG Fittings to the US group IDEX

IDEX Corporation, an applied solutions company specializing in fire suppression and safety technology, has acquired through its subsidiary, LUKAS Hydraulik GmbH, the AWG Fittings Group (AWG) from Paragon Partners.

IMAP advised on the sale of a Hungarian steel service center

The German Thyssenkrupp AG acquired 100 % of the shares in the Hungarian subsidiary Ib Andresen Industri Magyarország Kft. of the Danish IAI Holding A/S.

IMAP advises BPE sold on the sale of WEKA Holzbau to PREMIUM Equity Partners

BPE Unternehmensbeteiligungen G.m.b.H (Hamburg), focused on medium-sized companies, sold their shares in the WEKA Group, Neubrandenburg. New majority shareholders are the PREMIUM Equity Partners GmbH, Frankfurt am Main, managed funds and co-investors. The management team of WEKA remains involved in the company and will further advance the successful developments.

IMAP off to a good start in 2016

IMAP continued to consolidate and expand its international position as an M&A organization in 2015. Worldwide, 221 deals with a transaction volume of nearly USD 10 billion were successfully signed, almost one third of which were cross-border activities.

IMAP advises on key cross-border transaction

Hengst Group, Münster, active in the area of filtration, acquired the Danish company Nordic Air Filtration as of 1st February 1st, 2016, from US based listed industrial group MFRI Inc.. The acquisition was made in accordance with the its growth strategy to achieve a balanced and diversified business, a global presence and technology transfer into related areas.

Cross-border deal in the packaging industry

In the course of a transferring restructuring, Al Pack d.o.o., headquartered in Subotica, Serbia, acquired the assets of Leutkirch-based Uniprint Knauer GmbH & Co. KG.

IMAP has successfully advised on the acquisition of Krauth Technology

IMAP advised the shareholder of krauth Krauth technology Technology in Eberdach, on the disposal of all its shares to DUTECH Holding, Singapore. This is another cross-border transaction in the sector industrial goods sector by the DUTECH Group as it further expands its position in the German market.

IMAP advises on the acquisition of a manufacturer of equipment for the aviation industry

In addition to its own product range, Mafelec SAS, Chimilin, France, has taken over Comtronic GmbH ("Comtronic") based in Schönau, Germany.

IMAP advises on the sale of a producer of stainless steel valves for the food and beverage industry

The KIESELMANN FLUID PROCESS GROUP acquires Wilhelm Guth Ventiltechnik GmbH & Co. KG in Landau.

IMAP advises on transaction in the field of hydraulics

The Hydraulik Nord GmbH Group, based in Parchim (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania), has acquired KMF Kemptener Maschinenfabrik GmbH, Kempten (Bavaria) from Nußbaum Group. Hydraulik Nord and KMF develop and produce complementary hydraulic products.

IMAP advises on a transaction in the area property management / real estate management sector

Baugenossenschaft Familienheim Rhein-Neckar eG has successfully continued its steady growth policy and acquired 100% of the shares in Bayerische Wert- und Grundbesitz Verwaltung GmbH (Neubiberg), FaMaP GmbH (Neubiberg), WOHMAX GmbH (Neubiberg) and Münchner Grund Immobilien Management GmbH (Neubiberg).

IMAP advises the shareholders of MIAS Group on the sale to Jungheinrich

Jungheinrich AG is further expanding its leading position as a logistics systems provider. To this end, Jungheinrich has signed an agreement on the acquisition of MIAS Group with its owners.

IMAP advises VIA optronics GmbH on the restructuring of a growth-oriented overall financing system

As part of a competitive process, VIA optronics GmbH has structured medium-term debt financing in the double-digit millions. With a focus on growth, the funds made available will be used for working capital and inorganic growth.

IMAP advised F. A. Neuman Group on the sale of Julius Montz GmbH to the Pfaudler Group

F. A. Neuman Group, Eschweiler, has sold its business unit Column Internals and Distillation Technology, which are bundled in Julius Montz GmbH, Hilden, to Pfaudler Group, a portfolio company of Deutsche Beteiligungs AG.

IMAP successfully advises on the Telekom-Kaskaden transaction

IMAP has successfully advised on the transaction Telekom-Kaskaden transaction at the TZ Rhein Main technology centre in Darmstadt. GE9e Development Darmstadt GmbH, the property company of Telekom-Kaskaden's property company, was sold to a German investor as part of a share deal.

IMAP advises on the strategic realignment of premium manufacturer in the bicycle industry

SCOTT Sports SA acquired Bergamont Fahrrad Vertrieb GmbH, Hamburg, including its international activities, from BMC Group Holding AG. With the sale, the BMC Group strengthens its focus in the sports segment.