Gimv back their third buy-out this year

Investee Company – Group 3 S (Belgium)

Investee Company Business Type- Industrial maintenance and cleaning group

Type of Financing – Management buy-out

Equity Providers – GIMV

Equity Leader (Individual) – Peter Kloeck/ Alain Keppens

Debt Providers – N/A

Debt Type – N/A

Debt Leader (Individual) – N/A

Equity Amount – Euro6 million

Total Deal Value – N/A

Other Advisors – N/A

Comments – Gimv has announced its involvement in its third buy-out this year. The management buy-out of Group 3 S, based in Belgium, comes after that of Mondi Foods and the German Hornschuch buy-out. Gimv have participated with euro6 million acquiring a majority of the shares.

3 S is a major player in the sector of industrial cleaning and maintenance, active in the automotive sector, general industry and the food sector. The group has secured contracts with such high profile automotive companies as Volvo, Nedcar, Daf and Opel Belgium. In peak periods the company employs up to 1000 people and expects to realise a consolidated turnover of euro33 million for 2001.

Geert Mertens, General Manager at Group 3 S and key player in the management buy-out commented,”After acquiring a significant position on the Benelux market, which we wish to strengthen even further, the priority for the coming years lies on the international expansion of 3 S. As management, we are delighted with the new shareholders´ structure. This allows us to call upon the accumulated know-how of Erwin Andries and Marnix Vandekerckhove, but also provides us through Gimv with a financially strong partner having major experience in internationalising groups.”

Manager of Corporate Investment at Gimv made the following comment on Gimv’s current involvement in the buy-out market. “Traditionally, Gimv is better known as a capital provider in the form of minority interests in growth companies. However, on the Belgian market management teams are becoming more interested in taking matters into their own hands and – supported by a financial partner like Gimv – using a management buy-out to offer a way out for family shareholders (e.g. within the context of a problematic succession) or multinationals wanting to refocus on their core businesses. Gimv wishes to participate in this trend and to share our experience with respect to structuring, financing and professionalisation.”