NIB Capital Private Equity

NIB Capital Private Equity NV is one of the world’s largest private equity investment firms

with over E14 billion of funds under management and some 50 investment professionals. Operating from offices in Amsterdam, Antwerp, Frankfurt, London and New York, NIB Capital Private Equity covers Europe, the US and South East Asia.

NIB Capital Private Equity has two core clients, ABP and PGGM, which are two of the largest pension funds in the world, with in total approximately E200 billion of assets under management. Under the brand name of NIB Capital Private Equity, they bring several leading Dutch private equity firms under common management. NIB Capital Private Equity’s predecessor firms have been active in private equity since 1945 and its investors have a long

term commitment to the asset class.

NIB Capital Private Equity comprises three, closely aligned, lines of business: fund investments, co-investments and direct investments. Each business line has a dedicated team and a clear investment focus. This multi-channel investment strategy is adhered to in order to maintain and further develop a deep understanding of private equity investing. Thus, optimal use is made of the different skill sets available within the organisation.

The direct investment business of NIB Capital Private Equity goes back to the early 1980s, investing in over 300 companies across Europe.

It focuses mainly on two areas: buyouts, and venture capital financing in ICT and life science. As a lead investor NIB Capital Private Equity is predominantly active in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.

Individual investments range from E1 million for venture capital investments to approximately

E90 million for buyout investments. Larger transactions, with NIB Capital Private Equity as the lead investor, can be undertaken together with a partnership funds.

Early stage investments are made all over Europe but managed by the Amsterdam office.

Buyouts

Buyout investments are made through NIB Capital Private Equity’s offices in Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Antwerp covering the Benelux, Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

The focus is primarily on majority interests in a wide range of industries, but with particular focus on the specialty engineering, value added wholesale and distribution, food &

agri, professional services, media (publishing) and specialty chemicals sectors.

The value NIB Capital Private Equity adds includes contributing industry and financial expertise and offering its network in international financial, business and academic communities with successful key individuals, investment banks and industry experts. This network, spanning the three different lines of business and the other activities of the wider NIB Capital group, generates a considerable amount of deal flow on an international level.

The Frankfurt buyout team

The Frankfurt-based team focuses on the German, Austrian and Swiss buyout markets. The NIB Capital PE group considers these markets as part of its core activity because of the close cultural and business ties between the Netherlands and this region.

The team currently comprises five professionals, with a mix of backgrounds, experiences and languages. The team’s investment philosophy reflects that of NIB Capital Private Equity group, which adheres to the concept of thinking globally but acting locally. With a mix of

German and Dutch nationals, it aims to contribute a well-balanced mix of Dutch pragmatism’ and German reliability’ to its investee companies located in German speaking Europe.

This approach seems to have struck a cord with vendors and management teams alike, given the successes achieved during the last two years.

The Frankfurt team closed three high profile transactions in Germany, during a period of

relatively little buyout activity for the market as a whole.

For example, a contract to purchase Illbruck’s automotive division, specialising in acoustics (sales E300 million) was recently signed.

In addition, the European leader in aluminium ladders and scaffoldings called Zarges Tubesca (sales E175 million) was acquired from

VAW and, a leading systems supplier for day lighting and smoke extraction products called Essman (sales

E110 million) was acquired from Skanska. These companies are all European leaders in niche markets which have significant potential for further consolidation on a European and international scale.

As part of the international outlook of the NIB Capital Private Equity group, the management teams that are backed already have a successful track record in cross-border acquisitions.

NIB Capital Private Equity’s internationally experienced Frankfurt team aims to continue growing these companies through a buy and build strategy across Europe.