ABN Amro Participaties acquires MPS

AAP is the independently managed private equity business of ABN Amro. With a focus on investments in Dutch companies, it is known for its long-term commitment to investee companies. Funds are fully and solely committed by ABN Amro.

Headquartered in The Netherlands, MPS is a provider of narrow and mid web printing technologies. The company’s flexo, offset and flexo-digital hybrid printing presses are used in the label and flexible packaging industries, with end markets such as food and beverage, household products and pharmaceuticals. MPS’ products are sold globally, with a strong market presence in Europe and increasingly in Asia and North America.

Wim van den Bosch, MPS Systems CEO, Willem Huijink, the company’s chief financial officer, as well as founders Bert van den Brink and Eric Hoendervangers will remain with the business and invest alongside AAP.

van den Bosch commented: ‘In the past few years under the ownership of Braver Investment and Oost NL, MPS has gone through a strong development from a product, a financial and an organizational point of view. MPS is now ready to enter into a new growth phase to become a top three player in the market. MPS therefore started looking for a new strong shareholder that is able and willing to support MPS in realizing and accelerating its business plan. I am convinced that with the support of AAP we will be able to achieve our ambitious growth target in the coming years.’

Friso Janmaat, AAP managing director, said: ‘MPS is an excellent example of a successful Dutch company with a highly technical great product, a strong management team and potential for growth. We're excited about working together with the company and its management team during the years ahead to realise its growth plans.’

Marius Prins, Oost NL CEO, noted: ‘We have been a shareholder of MPS from the start of the company in 1996 by Eric Hoendervangers and Bert van den Brink. During the last years we have seen MPS grow up from a local start-up to a globally successful company, that provides many jobs to the region where we are active. We are convinced that MPS will become the top three player that it is aiming for.’

Gerard Brand, partner at Braver Investments, concluded: ‘In MPS, Braver Investments acquired a great business with a world class management team. We are pleased with the way MPS has developed. Having completed our development plans for MPS we are confident MPS will continue to prosper under AAPs ownership.’