Deal Announcement 12/17: Automotive

The Deal

The German PwC M&A team is pleased to announce the successful closing of Project OLYMP, the sale of Koller Gruppe (“Koller” or the “Company”), a German supplier of lightweight solutions for the automotive industry, to Nanjing Nangang Iron & Steel United Co. Ltd. (“Nanjing Nangang”), a portfolio company of the Chinese financial investor Fosun International (“Fosun”). Koller was a portfolio company of HANNOVER Finanz and co-investors (together “HF”). The management remains invested with a minority interest. PwC M&A acted as exclusive financial advisor to the vendors.

PwC M&A organized a structured sale process by addressing a limited number of potential buyers to achieve the best solution for the company, its employees and the vendors.

With the acquisition of Koller, Nanjing Nangang plans to expand Koller’s business in China and exploit the significant growth potential in Asia.

Koller Gruppe

Koller is headquartered in Dietfurt, Germany, with manufacturing sites in Germany, Hungary and Mexico. Besides the production of lightweight serial components, such as load floors, parcel trays, PUR sandwich panels and carbon parts, the company is active in the development and manufacturing of injection moulding and die-casting tools. Koller’s customer portfolio includes leading automotive OEMs, such as Audi, BMW, Daimler and Volkswagen, as well as blue-chip Tier-1 suppliers. The company generates revenues of approx. € 65m with about 840 employees.

HANNOVER Finanz

The HANNOVER Finanz Group, founded in 1979 and backed by institutional investors, has almost 40 years of experience as a private equity investor independent of banks or corporate groups. The basis of its investments in medium sized enterprises, intended for the long term, is the currently five active evergreen funds with unlimited duration. The investors are mainly insurance companies or professional pension funds. HANNOVER Finanz’s commitments extend from old economy industries to commerce and the new technologies. The reasons for involvement are mainly to finance growth and corporate succession in sound businesses with annual sales of at least 20 million euros. The HANNOVER Finanz Group is one of the few private equity houses in Germany to take on minority as well as majority shareholdings.

Fosun International Limited

Fosun International Limited is a multinational company that has been listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since 2007. Founded in 1992, Fosun's total assets exceed € 60bn. With its roots in China, Fosun is dedicated to creating global ecosystems in health, happiness and wealth (insurance, hive property and investments). Through innovation and technology, Fosun's ecosystems provide high-quality products and services for families around the world.

Nanjing Nangang Iron & Steel United Co. Ltd.

Nanjing Nangang Iron & Steel United Co., Ltd. was founded in 2009 and is the majority shareholder in Nanjing Iron & Steel Co., Ltd., which was listed on the main board of the Shanghai Stock Exchange in 2000. Its main business is in industrial investment, and it also develops business platforms in the areas of environmental protection, intelligent equipment and new materials.

PwC

The global PwC network is a worldwide association of independent auditing and consulting companies which together employ more than 220,000 employees in 157 countries. Our global network comprises nearly 1,550 M&A professionals all over the world, realizing approx. 390 successful transactions each year. We specialize in a wide range of independent M&A services including advice on acquisitions and disposals, mergers, public takeovers, privatizations as well as structured financing.

The PwC M&A deal team consisted of Martin Schwarzer (Partner), Wilfried Böckmann (Senior Manager), Thomas Klapsia (Manager), Niklas Nagel and David Jesch (both Consultants).