Managing Director Hans Blaak is acquiring VAM WaterTech, in partnership with Luxembourg-based environmental private equity firm Oraxys and French private capital firm Swen Capital Partners, to accelerate its international growth.
Oraxys will act as the lead investor, with Swen Capital Partners, a French private market investment firm, joining the acquisition alongside the current managing director. Together, they will acquire VAM WaterTech and its subsidiaries.
Founded in 1995 in Zeeland by Eduard van Antwerpen, who is exiting the company through this transaction, VAM WaterTech designs develops and manufactures modular water treatment and recycling equipment. The systems are tailored to meet the specific needs of global customers, including industrial agrifood processors, packagers, and retailers.
The investment by Oraxys and Swen Capital Partners aims to accelerate growth in Europe, North America, and Asia and to develop new solutions for additional types of vegetable crops.
Hans Blaak, Managing Director of VAM WaterTech, stated: "I am extremely grateful to the VAM WaterTech team for their achievements over the past few years. VAM WaterTech's solutions are known for their efficiency, reliability, and ease of use. They enable closed-cycle processes to reduce clean water usage by up to 95%, particularly in washing and rinsing vegetables. The technological levels we have achieved make us unique and unmatched in our promise to deliver the most reliable, effective, and cost-efficient solutions for minimizing water consumption and maximizing food safety. With the support of Oraxys and Swen, we look forward to our continued organizational, technological, and commercial development. We will further enhance our support for the international food processing and fresh packaging industry to help achieve their ESG goals."
Mimi Lamote, Oraxys Industrial Team Partner, commented: "We thank Hans Blaak and the entire operational team at VAM WaterTech for their confidence. We were immediately impressed by VAM WaterTech's strong expertise, and we look forward to collaborating on international growth."
"VAM WaterTech's contribution to more sustainable water use in the agri-food industry aligns perfectly with our strategy to develop European champions with a positive environmental impact. VAM WaterTech is the fifth investment of our fund, Oraxys Environment 2."
Romain Pesme, Swen Capital Partners Investment Team, added: "We are delighted to support the VAM WaterTech/Franken group in its further development and thank Hans Blaak and his team for their trust throughout this process. Given the increasing scarcity of water resources, water reuse is a critical issue, and we were immediately convinced by VAM WaterTech's expertise in this area. This investment aligns fully with the strategy of our European co-investment fund, Swen Rise, which actively supports sustainable businesses and contributes to a better future by promoting long-term environmental and social value."
Advisors on the transaction include Rembrandt, Squire Patton Boggs, 9Corporate, Fieldfisher, I-Care, Germain Maureau, and Deloitte.
For more information:
VAMWaterTech
Monsterweg 64
4454 AC Borssele
Tel : +31 (0)113 - 655880
[email protected]
www.vam-watertech.com