Apax hitches up with General Trailers

In a secondary buyout, the French funds of Apax Partners, including the listed co-investment vehicle Altamir, have acquired a majority stake in General Trailers from US investor Littlejohn & Co, which bought the group three years ago.

The European leader in its sector, General Trailers produced more than 19,000 vehicles last year, generating a turnover of s600 million.

General Trailers’ principal brands include Fruehauf, Trailor, Benalu and Blond Baudouin, and the company has established a commercial and retail distribution network covering 28 national markets throughout Europe.

The Paris office of Bank of Scotland supported Apax in the buyout.