Van Gansewinkel Groep

Jun 17, 2013

RSS Eindhoven, 22 January 2007 A consortium consisting of funds advised by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR) and CVC Capital Partners (CVC) has reached an agreement to acquire all of the outstanding share capital of the Van Gansewinkel Groep. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and the works council’s consent procedure. The consortium will combine Van Gansewinkel with AVR, which was acquired by the same consortium less than a year ago from the Municipality of Rotterdam. The acquisition of Van Gansewinkel complements AVR’s waste management portfolio, adding Van Gansewinkel’s collection network to a prominent waste treatment operation across Benelux. The new organisation will become a fully integrated waste management company covering the entire waste chain from consultancy through collection, to recycling and end-treatment creating a European top player in waste management. Both companies are also active in recycling, which bolsters the combined company’s future potential. Daan den Ouden, AVR Chairman of the executive board, will head-up the new organisation until three months after the transaction when he will be succeeded by Van Gansewinkel’s CEO, Ruud Sondag. Daan den Ouden will stay attached to the company as an advisor. The Van Gansewinkel Groep is a leading European waste service provider with a total 2006 turnover of more than €600 million and around 4,000 employees. The company provides expertise in total waste care, with its main activities in waste collection, (pre)treatment, and recycling of waste and material flows. Van Gansewinkel has diversified its operations outside of the Benelux, its home market, to become active in other markets such as the Czech Republic, Poland, France, Portugal and the U.K.. Last March, the consortium led by CVC and KKR acquired AVR, a market leader in the collection of domestic waste with a total turnover of €500 million, which treats over 4 million tons of processed waste annually. The company employs a workforce of around 2,100 and has operations in the Netherlands, Belgium and Ireland. Van Gansewinkel CEO, Ruud Sondag, commented: “Last summer we stated that we were looking for a new shareholder to help Van Gansewinkel’s expansion plans and to strengthen our position in Europe. Our joining forces with AVR will enable us to offer our combined customer base the broadest service available in the market: a one-stop-shop with enhanced geographic coverage. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Leo van Gansewinkel for founding and creating such a successful and entrepreneurial waste services company and I will continue to foster the values of Van Gansewinkel going forward.” AVR CEO, Den Ouden, commented: “Our combination with Van Gansewinkel creates an integrated waste management company across the value chain and is a major step in achieving our ambition of creating a leading European waste services group with the backing of our shareholders. I am pleased to have been involved in such an important step in the expansion of the business and look forward to helping the company grow further.” KKR Partner, Reinhard Gorenflos, added: “This acquisition demonstrates once again our commitment to back talented management teams to help them achieve their ambitions. We have delivered on our promise to grow AVR as a business and will continue to work side by side with the managers of the combined group in their quest to become a leading European waste management company.” Hugo van Berckel from CVC said: “Van Gansewinkel and AVR are world-class companies and the combination will enhance their offering to their customers, while solidifying their position as a Netherlands-based European leader in waste management. CVC intends to continue supporting the combined business' further growth, both organically and through acquisitions.” Further information on AVR or VGG is available on www.avr.nl and www.vangansewinkel.com Press office contact details: