HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA, one of the world’s leading automotive suppliers for lighting and electronics, is selling its Danish and Polish wholesale companies, FTZ Autodele & Verktoj A/S and Inter-Team sp. z o.o., to the Swedish wholesaler, Mekonomen AB. Anagreement has been signed by both companies. The purchase price amounts to €395 million (approximately $464 million) on a cash- and debt-free basis. In addition, a consideration equivalent to profits generated from Nov. 30, 2017 through completion of the transaction will be paid to HELLA. The sale is subject to approval by the relevant antitrust authorities and is expected to close in the 3rd quarter of 2018.
“With Mekonomen, a renowned wholesaler will take over our activities in Denmark and Poland, which will strategically develop the business,” said Dr. Werner Benade, HELLA managing director responsible for the aftermarket and special applications segments. “We will systematically focus the aftermarket segment on the independent spare parts business and innovative workshop equipment. As part of this, we are accelerating the interaction between the divisions and opening up digital business models.”
Pehr Oscarson, president and CEO of Mekonomen, added, “Through the acquisition of FTZ and Inter-Team, we strengthen our position as a leading automotive spare-parts distributor in the Nordic region and take the step into Europe. The acquisition is in line with our strategy of playing a central role in the ongoing consolidation in Europe. These are two well-run companies that will continue to develop within the framework of existing corporate structures and brands as standalone companies in the group.”
FTZ and Inter-Team employ a total of around 2,500 people. The two wholesalers achieved total sales of around €480 million (approximately $564 million) in the 2016/2017 financial year. This corresponds to about 7 percent of HELLA’s group consolidated sales.
The transaction is conducted with the assistance of Jefferies Financial Group (financial adviser), Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (legal adviser), Ebner Stolz (financial and tax due diligence) and Roland Berger (commercial due diligence).
