Frankfurt/Main – Frankfurt-based Halder Beteiligungsberatung GmbH has announced an agreement with Culligan International for the sale of the Aqua Vital Group, the leading supplier of water dispensers to commercial customers in Germany. Culligan is the world’s leading provider of water treatment solutions. The parties agreed not to disclose financial details of the transaction.
A CMS team headed by lead partner Dr Oliver Wolfgramm advised Halder on all legal aspects of the sale. The Frankfurt-based private equity and M&A partner previously advised Halder on the acquisition of Aqua Vital in 2013. The company has made a number of acquisitions to expand its business, supported by CMS. In 2014, for example, its acquisition of German competitor revos watercooler consolidated its position in the German water dispenser market. The takeover of Kalimba in 2017 enabled Aqua Vital to enter the Belgian and Dutch markets. Halder’s positioning as a quality and innovation leader was enhanced by the recent purchase of the water dispenser business and patents of Oxymount Technology in Germany.
Established in 1999, Aqua Vital provides small and medium-sized commercial customers with end-to-end solutions for water dispensers, including installation, technical service and supplying consumables. Aqua Vital serves an installed base of more than 60,000 dispensers, which are typically rented to customers for a multi-year period.
Halder has been active as a private equity investor in Germany since 1991 and has provided 38 SMEs with equity capital for succession and growth. The sale of Aqua Vital is the third exit from the portfolio of the Halder Germany II fund. Halder supports its portfolio companies in their international expansion and helps them to sharpen their strategy and focus their business model. It also provides funding for expanding capacity and financing strategic acquisitions.
CMS Germany
Dr Oliver Wolfgramm, Lead Partner
Dirk Baukholt, Counsel
Dr Navid Anderson, Senior Associate, all Corporate
Dr Rolf Hempel, Partner
Martin Cholewa, Senior Associate, both Competition & EU
Marcus Fischer, Counsel, Tax
Press Contact
presse@cms-hs.com
