EQT Private Equity to sell BBS Automation, a global leader in factory automation solutions

• EQT Private Equity, together with its co-shareholders, to sell BBS Automation to MDAX-listed Dürr Group
• Under EQT’s ownership, BBS has transformed from a founder-led organization to a global leader in end-to-end factory automation solutions with full digital capabilities
• Since EQT entered in 2018, the Company has more than doubled its revenues, significantly expanded its global site footprint, and complemented organic growth with four add-on acquisitions

STOCKHOLM, June 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — EQT is pleased to announce that the EQT Mid Market Europe and EQT Mid Market Asia III funds (together “EQT Private Equity” or “EQT”), together with its co-shareholders, have agreed to sell BBS Automation (“BBS” or the “Company”) to MDAX-listed Dürr Group.

Headquartered in Munich, Germany, BBS Automation helps companies automate their production processes and reduce energy consumption, waste and downtime, allowing customers to meet rapidly growing cost and sustainability demands. It plays a pivotal role in the Industry 4.0 revolution by developing and manufacturing automated, smart factory solutions. The Company’s tailor-made assembly and testing applications are used by customers in a wide range of industries, including (e)Mobility, Life Sciences, and Consumer Electronics, amongst others.

EQT Private Equity partnered with Josef Wildgruber in May 2018 and acquired a majority stake in BBS with a joint vision to build a leading global platform for factory automation. During EQT’s ownership, BBS has more than doubled its sales to over EUR 300 million today (2023 estimate). At the same time, BBS has made substantial investments in its global footprint, doubling its network of sites from 7 to 14 and growing its number of employees from around 550 to around 1,200.

Organic growth was complemented by four strategic add-on acquisitions including ANT Solutions, a Polish provider of digital factory solutions, TEAM, an Italian specialist for winding technology, and ReaLead, a Chinese automation solutions provider. Last year, BBS significantly strengthened its MedTech and Life Sciences capabilities with the acquisition of Italy-based Kahle Automation.

As part of Dürr Group, BBS will continue its growth journey under the leadership of Josef Wildgruber. The combined Group will be one of the leading assembly and automation players globally with a highly complementary solution portfolio and substantial synergies with Dürr’s automation business, in particular Teamtechnik, which Dürr acquired in 2021.

Andreas Aschenbrenner, Partner within EQT Private Equity’s Advisory Team, said, “We could not have imagined a better home for BBS than Dürr Group and a more compelling industrial logic. By combining the Dürr automation business with BBS’ global automation platform, we are creating a global leader in the field. BBS is a showcase of EQT’s philosophy of investing at the nexus of digitization and sustainability, creating value for our investors, the company and its employees and society at large.”

Robert Latz, Managing Director within EQT Private Equity’s Advisory Team, adds, “We are very proud of what we have achieved together with the BBS team over the past years. EQT has a long-standing track record of partnering with founders to help them scale and professionalize their businesses. BBS is a showcase of how we can help companies reach their full potential. We have transformed BBS to a global leader in industrial automation by expanding its solutions portfolio, end markets, and geographic footprint.”

Josef Wildgruber, CEO and Founder of BBS Automation, said “This is a momentous day in the history of BBS. We are very excited to become part of the Dürr family and continue our growth journey together, leveraging our combined German heritage, reputation and expertise. We are very grateful for EQT’s strong support over the years, which enabled us to turn BBS into the global platform it is today with a market-leading footprint across all continents. I very much look forward to working with Jochen Weyrauch and his team in building the future of automation.”

The transaction is subject to regulatory approval. Closing of the transaction is expected in the fall of 2023.

Contact
EQT Press Office, press@eqtpartners.com, +46 8 506 55 334

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