August 10, 2020
HQ Equita acquires specialist for industrial microwave and plasma technology MUEGGE
Bad Homburg, 10th August, 2020 – HQ Equita, trusted partner of SMEs in Germany, Austria and Switzerland for almost three decades, acquires a majority stake in MUEGGE GmbH from MEYER BURGER TECHNOLOGY AG. The agreement is subject to customary closing conditions and must still be approved by the authorities in Germany. MUEGGE is one of the leading manufacturers of industrial mission critical microwave components, systems and plasma sources in German-speaking Europe. Based in Reichelsheim, Germany, MUEGGE provides innovative solutions for a range of industrial applications including the production of food, artificial diamonds and semiconductor components, for drying processes, for chemical molecule extraction and for the production of hydrogen.
“MUEGGE, as a technologically driven company with a strong position in its niche market, is an ideal match for HQ Equita. With its dynamic management team and leading R&D and engineering capabilities, the company is ideally positioned to serve a growing range of applications in international markets. Also in light of our positive experience with corporate spin-offs, we are convinced of MUEGEE’s future potential and are very much looking forward to supporting the management team in building on their success story.” explained Frank Schäfer, partner with HQ Equita.
“As part of our focus on the transformation of Meyer Burger into a solar cell and module producer, we have decided to sell the non-strategic business unit,” explains Gunter Erfurt, CEO of Meyer Burger Technology. “We are convinced that MUEGGE will continue to grow and achieve sustainable success together with a strong partner like HQ Equita.”
“In HQ Equita we have found an ideal partner for our company”, says Klaus Baumgärtner, CEO of MUEGGE. “By investing in research and development, but also in sales and new technologies, we want to grow geographically and technologically. Together we will initiate the next stage in our expansion and internationalization strategy. We look forward to working closely with HQ Equita.”
HQ Equita will hold the majority interest in MUEGGE through a newly established holding company, in which the management will also hold an interest. Besides MUEGGE, HQ Equita currently supports the businesses EBERTLANG, Flad & Flad, The Packaging Group, r2p and WellPlusTrade with the realization of their growth initiatives and their internationalisation.
HQ Equita was supported in the transaction by goetzpartners (commercial due diligence), Deloitte (financial due diligence) and GleissLutz (law and taxes). Meyer Burger was supported in the transaction by IPONTIX (M&A) and Rechtsanwaltssozietät Schmitz Knoth (law). The management of MUEGGE was advised by Waldeck Rechtsanwälte (law).
About HQ Equita
HQ Equita is part of the Harald Quandt-Group, based in Bad Homburg. Around 10 investment professionals 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 35 small and medium-sized companies in German-speaking countries.
About MUEGGE
MUEGGE is a leading manufacturer and supplier of mission critical industrial microwave components, systems and plasma sources with a strong global footprint. Founded in 1979 and based in Reichelsheim, Germany, the company’s approximately 120 employees provide solutions for a range of industrial applications including the production of food, artificial diamonds and semi-conductor components, for drying processes, for chemical molecule extraction and for the production of hydrogen to customers in more than 40 countries.
About MEYER BURGER TECHNOLOGY AG
Meyer Burger is a leading and globally active technology company specializing in innovative systems and production equipment for the photovoltaic (solar) industry. As an internationally renowned premium brand, Meyer Burger offers its customers in the PV industry dependable precision products and innovative solutions for the manufacture of high-efficiency solar cells and solar modules.
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