BC Partners to acquire Dümmen Orange
AMSTERDAM – 16 October 2015 – Funds advised by BC Partners (“BC Partners”), a leading private equity firm, have reached an agreement to acquire a majority stake in Dümmen Orange (“the Company”), the global leader in the floricultural breeding sector, from H2 Equity Partners and the Dümmen family. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the coming months.
Dümmen Orange is the global leader in the floricultural breeding sector, with a broad portfolio of 3,500 proprietary varieties of cut flowers, pot and bedding plants. Dümmen Orange’s core business is the development of flower varieties with improved characteristics for growers, retailers and consumers, and it creates, develops and produces cuttings which are then supplied to growers globally. Leveraging distinctive capabilities in innovative breeding technologies, a global commercial network, unmatched production scale, and a successful track record of value-creating acquisitions, Dümmen Orange is leading the consolidation of the floricultural breeding sector.
Headquartered in De Lier in the Netherlands, with production farms in Central America and East Africa, and commercial presence in all key end-markets, Dümmen Orange employs 6,000 people globally. The Company was formed in 2013 through the strategic merger between Dümmen AG and Agribio; subsequently it has grown further by a number of acquisitions.
Jean-Baptiste Wautier, Managing Partner at BC Partners, commented: "Dümmen Orange is a thriving, innovative and growing business, led by a talented and experienced management team which has an impressive track-record in floriculture and related sectors. We look forward to backing them as they pursue an ambitious growth strategy, fueled by investments in sales & marketing, advances in breeding technologies, and selective acquisitions."
Biense Visser, CEO of Dümmen Orange, commented: "Our partnership with BC Partners will enable us to accelerate our development. They have a distinguished track record helping companies achieve their full potential. With their support, we intend to continue to bring value-added innovation to growers, retailers and consumers, and we look forward to leading the consolidation of our sector."
About BC Partners
BC Partners is a leading private equity firm with over €12 billion of assets under management. Established in 1986, BC Partners has played an active role in developing the European buy-out market for nearly three decades. BC Partners executives operate as an integrated team through the firm’s offices in Europe and North America, acquiring and developing businesses to create value in partnership with management. Since inception, BC Partners has completed investments in 89 companies with a total enterprise value of nearly €100 billion and is currently investing its ninth fund, which was raised in 2011 with total commitments of €6.7 billion.
About Dümmen Orange
Dümmen Orange is the global leader in the floricultural breeding sector. It breeds and develops flower varieties with improved characteristics, and produces cuttings which are then sold to growers. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Dümmen Orange operates production farms in East Africa and Central America and serves customers in Western Europe, North America, and Asia.