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Buyouts & Growth

With its many years of experience, Buyouts & Growth is a major player in the private equity market. The team has a detailed knowledge of local markets and it can rely on a regional presence with offices in Belgium, the Netherlands and France and an extensive international network of expertise.

Buyouts & Growth investment focus

• family businesses with succession issues;
• financial shareholders seeking liquidity;
• companies wishing to divest assets or divisions;
• companies needing fresh capital to accelerate their growth.
   
• small to medium-sized companies in varying sectors with enterprise values of up to EUR 125 million;
• investments from EUR 5 million to 100 million;
• minority or majority shareholdings;
• equity and mezzanine instruments.

Growth with a solid investor

With its ability to commit long-term with its own funds, Gimv presents itself to potential portfolio companies as a solid investor and an ideal partner in the development of growth strategies. Two examples that illustrate this are De Groot International and Onedirect.

Over a period of 50 years, De Groot International has grown from small fruit trader to an international importer, distributor and exporter of fruit and vegetables. Gimv entered the company in 2005 and since then has supported its international expansion. During this period De Groot International has undertaken five successful acquisitions.

Onedirect is a European B2B e-trading specialist in telephony equipment. Gimv believes in the growth potential of this niche player. The fact that Gimv has its own international network and its own expertise in the online environment enhances Onedirect’s growth prospects.

Network of capital, knowledge and skills

Gimv is a reliable and experienced coach and a strategic advisor for checking insights both formally and informally. In short, it is much more than a provider of capital. On the basis of this vision the buyout team is composed of people with financial, strategic and operational backgrounds. Each complements the other so that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. This is reinforced by the use of industry partners. They act as a sounding board for the portfolio companies and provide advice to management where requested. Bringing people together creates added value. Therefore Gimv attaches great importance to this exchange of ideas and tries to bring all those involved into regular contact with each other.

Automotive industry supplier VCST is a perfect example. In 2009, Gimv took the initiative of restructuring this company’s debt, allowing VCST to once again focus on growth. As a result at the end of 2011 the company will be opening a new facility in growth market China. In the process, VCST received advice from sector colleague Punch Powertrain, another Gimv portfolio company which has already been operating for some time in China.

Across all borders

International, multidisciplinary and local presence are three key concepts which make Gimv unique. This is proven by companies like Easyvoyage and XDC. Gimv’s international operating context, its knowledge of markets and local situations, plus interaction between the venture capital and the buyout teams put Gimv well ahead of the competition.

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