March 29, 2022 2:40 pm
Euro-Cold BV is a Rotterdam-based wholesaler for the installation industry in refrigeration, freezer technology and heat pumps. It specializes in finding the right technical solution and delivers customized solutions that are unique in the industry. Sister-company Refflex International BV is a leading producer of flexible hoses and associated fittings for the refrigeration, freezer and heat pump installation sector with a worldwide distribution network. Both companies have been in existence for more than a quarter of a century and are successful in their market segments.
Our approach
The shareholders decided to initiate the sale of both companies in the summer of 2021 and contacted ECFG to advise in this sale. Hubert Bosch, senior advisor at ECFG, was responsible for the project and started looking for acquisition opportunities within five defined buyer segments. In the process, an MBI candidate was found that was interested in taking over the shares of both owners.
A negotiation process was completed with this MBI candidate, which led to the successful sale of Euro-Cold and Refflex International in March 2022. The new management team is taking over the entire workforce and one of the former owners will continue to work for the company during 2022 in order to ensure the smoothest possible transition.
The importance of creating a win-win situation
Hubert Bosch: “A company takeover is a sensitive process that requires a keen eye for detail and the financial, legal and tax aspects must not be overlooked. When selling a company, the emotional aspects must also be given proper attention without letting them dominate. In my role as advisor, I see myself as a kind of game leader, who is constantly busy maintaining and guarding the right balance between the players. The goal is always to strive for a clear win-win for both parties. Only then will the deal be good and fair in the long term and will there ultimately be two winners, as was the case with the sale of Euro-Cold and Refflex International. As the game leader, I can look back on a well played and balanced role and that gives a huge satisfaction!”
Are you also considering selling your company and would you like to discuss your options with Hubert? Or do you have another question in the field of (financial) management? Feel free to contact Hubert for an informal introduction (bosch@ecfg.nl or 06-4660 6841).
March 21, 2022 2:17 pm
Eindhoven Venture Capital Fund II (EVCF II) invested in CytoSMART Technologies, based in Eindhoven, in 2019 to fund the company’s product development and scale up ambitions. Since then, the company has grown to over 50 employees and successfully launched a number of new innovative products into the life sciences tools market. We are pleased to announce that on March 21 2022, Axion BioSystems, a US-based leading life sciences tools company focused on advanced live-cell assay systems, has acquired CytoSMART Technologies. Both companies see large synergies to accelerate further growth together.
“With Axion’s resources and experience, we look forward to accelerating our market growth and product innovation” says Joffry Maltha, CEO of CytoSMART Technologies.
We like to thank Joffry Maltha en Jan-Willem van Bree for the pleasant cooperation in the past years and wish the all the best in this new phase!
For more information, please visit the website of CytoSMART Technologies.
March 7, 2022 3:55 pm
March 2022
ECFG has taken a minority stake in Simbeyond Holding B.V. through Eindhoven Venture Capital Fund II (EVCF II). Simbeyond has developed simulation software (Bumblebee) that can very accurately measure the effects of OLED materials at the device level. This is the first round of funding for Simbeyond. The funding will be used to accelerate growth (R&D and sales).
About Simbeyond
With Bumblebee, Simbeyond offers simulation software for materials deployment in the engineering process of OLED devices. The software tool calculates, based on very complex laws of physics, the effects of the materials used in the OLED devices. Bumblebee will be further developed in the coming period to also simulate outcomes for materials deployment in battery development. The current process is still based on trial and error and physical (human) action, resulting in a time-consuming, costly and error-prone process. R&D companies, departments of large tech companies and other relevant research institutes (such as universities) use Bumblebee to achieve significant cost savings. In addition, these parties can bring new products to market faster, as the R&D process is significantly accelerated.
Investment target
The past years have been dominated by product development for Simbeyond. The goal in this new growth phase is to become the preferred supplier of simulation software for organic materials for the high-tech industry as well as tapping into two new markets: the battery and nanolithography market.
Collaboration
“Simbeyond is entering a new growth phase with ambitious objectives. This investment and cooperation does not only mean securing the resources to become the number one simulation tool in the OLED market, but also to take a step forward in the development of new products,” said Siebe van Mensfoort, CEO of Simbeyond.
Hans Bloemen, managing director en partner of ECFG: “Measurement brings knowledge, Simbeyond does that in the purest form. Bumblebee is only just ready to enter the market. It now needs the right commercial attention to get a flying start. The investment ensures that this growth can be realized. In addition to further developing the OLED market, new markets can also be tapped into. Together we hope to give this technical scale-up a significant boost.”
