MANAGEMENT OPKOOP ESKA GRAPHIC BOARD

Holland Corporate Finance is pleased to announce that its client, the management team of Kappa Graphic Board B.V., and H2 Equity Partners have successfully acquired 100% of the share capital of Kappa Graphic Board via a Management Buyout from Smurfit Kappa Group.

The company, which will henceforth be known as Eska Graphic Board, is world leader in the high quality graphic board market. Turnover is in the region of €150 million and the company currently employs around 500 FTEs. From 100% waste paper Eska Graphic Board produces approximately 300,000 tonnes of graphic board in two mills (Hoogezand and Sappemeer) in the Northern part of the Netherlands. The board is marketed under the brand names Eskaboard, Eskamount and Eskapuzzle, which stands for top quality graphic board that is especially developed for hardcover books, lever arch files, ring binders, albums, diaries, game boards, puzzles, displays and show cards.

More than 95% of the board is exported to nearly every European country and the markets of North & South America, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East and Africa. In order to secure a fast service worldwide Eska Graphic Board has its own service centres and a dedicated network of agents and distributors.

The company was sold as a consequence of the merger between the Jefferson Smurfit Group and Kappa Packaging.

Eska Graphic Board aims to consolidate its position even further in the world market for graphic board. Among other things, current cost-cutting activities will be continued in order to enhance the company’s competitive strength. As a result of this acquisition, the company’s financial position will be strengthened and its operational power will be significantly increased.

The transaction team of Holland Corporate Finance consisted of Robert Boersma.