BBS Automation Set for New Chapter as EQT Agrees to Sale with Dürr Group

BBS Automation Set for New Chapter as EQT Agrees to Sale with Dürr Group

(IN BRIEF) EQT, along with its co-shareholders, has agreed to sell BBS Automation to Dürr Group. BBS Automation, based in Munich, specializes in automating production processes and reducing energy consumption and waste. It offers customized assembly and testing solutions for various industries. Under EQT’s ownership, BBS has doubled its sales and expanded its global footprint. The acquisition by Dürr Group will strengthen BBS’s position in the automation industry, with substantial synergies expected. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and is projected to close in the fall of 2023.

(PRESS RELEASE) STOCKHOLM, 14-Jun-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — EQT AB, a purpose-driven global investment organization, is pleased to announce the sale of BBS Automation (“BBS” or the “Company”) to MDAX-listed Dürr Group, a major player in the automation industry. The transaction is a significant milestone in BBS’s journey to revolutionize production processes and enhance sustainability.

Headquartered in Munich, BBS Automation specializes in providing smart factory solutions that automate production processes, reduce energy consumption, minimize waste, and optimize downtime. With a focus on Industry 4.0, the Company’s tailored assembly and testing applications serve customers across diverse industries such as (e)Mobility, Life Sciences, Consumer Electronics, and more.

EQT Private Equity joined forces with Josef Wildgruber in May 2018 to acquire a majority stake in BBS Automation, with the shared vision of establishing a global platform for factory automation. Under EQT’s ownership, BBS has experienced remarkable growth, more than doubling its sales to over EUR 300 million (2023 estimate). The Company has expanded its global presence by increasing its network of sites from 7 to 14 and growing its employee base from around 550 to approximately 1,200.

In addition to organic growth, BBS pursued a strategic acquisition strategy, successfully integrating four companies into its portfolio. Notable acquisitions include ANT Solutions, a Polish provider of digital factory solutions, TEAM, an Italian specialist in winding technology, and ReaLead, a Chinese automation solutions provider. Last year, BBS further strengthened its capabilities in MedTech and Life Sciences through the acquisition of Italy-based Kahle Automation.

As part of the Dürr Group, BBS will continue its growth trajectory under the leadership of Josef Wildgruber. The merged entity will emerge as a global leader in assembly and automation, benefitting from a complementary solution portfolio and substantial synergies with Dürr’s automation business, particularly Teamtechnik, which was acquired by Dürr 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 pending regulatory approval and is expected to close in the fall of 2023.

About EQT
EQT is a purpose-driven global investment organization with EUR 119 billion in assets under management within two business segments – Private Capital and Real Assets. EQT owns portfolio companies and assets in Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Americas and supports them in achieving sustainable growth, operational excellence and market leadership.

More info: www.eqtgroup.com
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About BBS Automation
Headquartered in Munich, Germany, BBS Automation develops flexible and high-quality automation solutions for complex manufacturing and testing processes. With state-of-the-art production sites in Germany, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, India, China, Malaysia, Mexico and the US, BBS Automation supports a diverse network of blue-chip customers on a global scale. BBS has around 1,200 employees across 14 locations in Europe, Asia, and North America.

More info: www.bbsautomation.com

About Dürr Group
The Dürr Group is one of the world’s leading mechanical and plant engineering firms with extensive expertise in automation, digitalization and energy efficiency. Its products, systems and services enable highly efficient and sustainable manufacturing processes in different industries. The Dürr Group primarily supplies the automotive industry, producers of furniture and timber houses as well as the chemical, pharmaceutical, medical devices and electrical engineering sectors. The company has about 18,500 employees and 123 business locations in 32 countries.

More info: www.durr.com

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

SOURCE: EQT AB