September 19, 2006
EQUITA has taken over the Swiss PMA group, previously under the ownership of the Fränkische Rohrwerke Gebr. Kirchner GmbH & Co. KG
The Equita Fund 3 managed by Equita Management GmbH, a holding company belonging to the Harald Quandt group based in Bad Homburg, together with members of the existing PMA management will take over the PMA group based in Uster/Switzerland from the Fränkische Rohrwerke Gebr. Kirchner GmbH & Co. KG. The various parties reached an undisclosed agreement upon the valuation and other details of the transaction.
The Equita Management GmbH specialises in transactions around medium sized enterprises in the German speaking countries. The current transaction is the fourth investment of the Equita Fund 3 launched in November 2005. The external financing will be provided by the Investkredit Bank AG.
The Equita Fund 3 has an unlimited duration. This allows the fund to participate in longer term investment engagements.
The PMA group is an internationally leading manufacturer of technologically and qualitatively advanced cable protection systems. It supports five Western European subsidiaries (Austria, Spain, France, Italy and Great Britain) as well as a distribution centre in Germany which will also be taken over as part of the transaction.
PMA is represented throughout the world, co-operating with partner companies in 36 countries.
PMA’s product portfolio consists principally of corrugated conduits and fittings in high quality engineering plastics for the protection of cables in particularly critical applications. The company’s products provide reliable protection for energy and data lines against external influences such as heat, cold, elongation and compression. The major volume market segments are machine building, rail industry and robotics/automation.
Ernst Schwarz CEO of the PMA group commented after the contracts had been signed: “We are delighted to have found in Equita a strong, independent, partner with whom we can continue our successful company development long term.”
Dr. Hansjörg Schnabel, managing director of Equita Management GmbH, added: “PMA has an extraordinarily good market position in the relevant segments. The high quality products are internationally acclaimed. With our experience of medium sized businesses and orientation towards long term investment we will support PMA in expanding into new areas of application and new geographic regions.”
Further information:
Equita Management GmbH
Dr. Michael Hönig
Telephone: +49 89 293345
Dr. Hansjörg Schnabel
Managing Director
Jan Drewitz
Telephone: +49 6172 9441-201
PMA AG, Uster
Ernst Schwarz
Managing Director
Telephone: +41 44 905 61 11
On behalf of Equita Management GmbH:
Charles Barker Corporate Communications GmbH, Frankfurt am Main
Irina Kobboldt
Telephone: +49 (0) 69 794090-30
Kornelia Spodzieja
Telephone: +49 (0) 69 794090-40
Notes for the editorial staff:
PMA AG
The PMA group has designed, produced and distributed highest quality polyamide cable protection systems since 1975. With our quality swiss products we have, in a short space of time, earned an excellent reputation worldwide and established ourselves as market leader. Our product range, which today consists of over 6000 parts, has proven itself worldwide in rail, machine and shipbuilding industries. But also in automation, building installation and many other application areas PMA products are preferred choice. Further information: www.pma.ch
Equita Management GmbH
The Equita Management GmbH („Equita“) is an independent private equity company based in Bad Homburg, which is engaged through it’s exclusively managed funds in medium sized enterprises in the German speaking countries. Equita was born out of the entrepreneurial tradition in the Harald Quandt family. Equita engages itself mainly in companies with significant potential for growth and increase in value. Current investments are made out of the new Equita Fund 3 launched in Autumn 2005. The fund has an open, unlimited duration allowing longer term investments.
Further information: www.equita.de