November 18, 2019
HQ Equita acquires majority stake in WOLF Verpackungsmaschinen Group
Bad Homburg, 18 November 2019 | HQ Equita, trusted partner of SMEs in Germany, Austria and Switzerland for almost three decades, has acquired a majority stake in WOLF Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH, based in Lich-Birklar. WOLF is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of vertical form, fill and seal machines for food, industrial goods and chemicals.
After acquiring a majority stake in the packaging machine specialists FAWEMA and HDG in 2018, HQ Equita is strengthening its platform investment The Packaging Group (TPG) with WOLF. In future, WOLF, FAWEMA and HDG will operate as a group of companies to develop specific packaging solutions for customers. In addition to a joint product development, a sales and service platform is to be established for all three companies in order to be able to advise and support customers worldwide competently and reliably on all product groups. The traditional brands WOLF, HDG and FAWEMA will be retained and selected operations strategically reinforced. As a group, the three companies employ over 400 people at 14 locations worldwide in the production, assembly, service and sales of specialized packaging machines for food, chemical products and industrial applications.
Similar to previous investments, HQ Equita is acquiring the majority of the family-owned packaging specialist WOLF from the family and other investors, who will remain shareholders in the company. The transaction was closed on 6 November 2019. The Wolf family remains as C-level management as before. The parties have agreed to maintain confidentiality regarding the purchase price.
“We are delighted to have a strong new partner by our side,” said Günter Wolf, Managing Director and founder of WOLF Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH. “We have found an ideal partner for the company in HQ Equita, to successfully implement the next phase of expansion and internationalisation.”
WOLF is a pioneer and specialist in the packaging industry. The machines can pack powdered, pourable, frozen and liquid products, among others, and are also used in particular for snack products. WOLF’s expertise in vertical form, fill and seal machines perfectly complements the product families of HDG and FAWEMA. Together, the group can offer customers tailor-made solutions for distinctive packaging trends from a single source. This merger also means ideal positioning for new and environmentally friendly alternative packaging materials such as paper and paper laminates.
“The packaging industry is a growth market. WOLF is optimally positioned with its innovative and high-quality products and services and the state-of-the-art assembly site in China. It will enable us to strengthen our packaging platform and drive the growth and internationalisation of our three packaging specialists through promising synergies,” said Florian Wiemken, Partner at HQ Equita.
With over 200 employees at nine locations, including a second assembly site in China, WOLF is a global contact for food manufacturers, and companies in the chemicals sector and industry. In addition to the manufacture of sophisticated packaging machines, WOLF also has a global service and sales network that perfectly complements the existing sales and service activities of FAWEMA and HDG in the markets of Eastern Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
“We welcome WOLF to the HQ Equita family. The name WOLF represents innovation, reliability and quality in the packaging industry. FAWEMA, HDG and WOLF form a strong alliance that we aim to support and strengthen in the next stage of its development,” said Christine Weiss, Partner and Managing Director at HQ Equita.
HQ Equita has been active in the growing packaging machine market for many years. For instance, the company held a majority in Rovema Group, another specialist for vertical packaging solutions, until 2017.
WOLF was advised on the transaction by cf:M (M&A), taxess (tax) and EGW Law (law). HQ Equita was supported by ALANTRA (M&A), Ebner Stolz (FDD), Munich Strategy Group (CDD), Watson Farley & Williams (law, tax, structuring), Henderson Taxand (tax China), Eiger Law (law China), ERM (ESG), and MSLAW (acquisition finance agreement).
About HQ Equita
HQ Equita is part of the Harald Quandt Group, based in Bad Homburg. Around 20 experts support primarily owner-managed SMEs in strategically developing and growing their business. HQ Equita has become an established and trusted partner for SMEs since 1992, with around EUR 1 billion invested in over 30 small and medium-sized companies in German-speaking countries.
Media contact | Ulrich v. Rotenhan – Head of Communications & Investor Relations HQ Capital | press@hqcapital.com
Investor contact | Jan Herwig – Head of Legal & Investor Relations HQ Equita | jan.herwig@hqequita.com