JM Corporate Finance assists Mabotec and Hydroplus with their sale to Van Halteren Technologies—an acquisition in the hydraulics industry

JM Corporate Finance has advised Johan Duister and Sjaak Branderhorst on the sale of their companies, Mabotec and Hydroplus, to Van Halteren Technologies (VHT).

With this acquisition, both entrepreneurs are bringing a period of more than 30 years of entrepreneurship to a close, and a new phase is beginning for both companies. As part of Van Halteren Technologies, Mabotec and Hydroplus can continue to leverage their specialized knowledge and experience and build on the opportunities this affiliation offers.

Van Halteren Technologies develops and manufactures high-quality technical solutions for sectors including defense, marine, offshore, and energy. With this acquisition, VHT strengthens its product portfolio and further expands its technological expertise.

JM Corporate Finance ’s Bart Koreman, Jorn de Brouwer, and Rogier Titulaer advised the sellers throughout the entire sale process. This process included, among other things, valuing the companies, drafting the information memorandum, selecting and approaching potential buyers, facilitating discussions with interested parties, and conducting negotiations. JM Corporate Finance also served as an adviser and sounding board regarding the transaction documentation and the various decision points throughout the process.

It was a multifaceted and intensive process, involving strategic considerations, financial analyses, negotiations, and personal interests. It is precisely this combination that makes a sale process like this both challenging and valuable.

A strategic fit within the fluid power industry

Mabotec and Hydroplus are well-established names in the fluid power industry and possess complementary expertise in the field of hydraulic technology. Mabotec designs and manufactures high-quality hydraulic manifolds weighing up to 10,000 kilograms. In addition, Hydroplus specializes in the design, assembly, and testing of complete hydraulic manifold systems. Together, the companies offer advanced solutions for a wide range of industrial applications.

The acquisition of Mabotec and Hydroplus aligns with the growth strategy of the VHT locations at Boxtel and Rotterdam. The combination of Mabotec and Hydroplus’s specialized knowledge and experience with Van Halteren Technologies’ precision technology, system integration, and existing operations creates a strong foundation for further growth and innovation, while simultaneously broadening the product portfolio and enabling the company to serve its customers even better.

The management of Van Halteren Technologies explains the acquisition as follows:

“With Mabotec B.V. and Hydroplus B.V., we are bringing in two strong businesses that valuable complement our portfolio. Both businesses bring specialized expertise that aligns seamlessly with our own technology, enabling us to offer our customers even more together.”

The combination of the three organizations offers opportunities to further develop existing expertise, broaden the range of services, and provide even better support to clients facing complex hydraulic challenges. As such, the acquisition not only expands the product portfolio but also represents a logical strategic step for the continued development of the companies involved.

Peter de Graaff, managing director of Mabotec and Hydroplus, also looks to the future with confidence:

“We are confident in entrusting the future of Mabotec B.V. and Hydroplus B.V. to Van Halteren Technologies. We are convinced that our employees and customers are in good hands at VHT, and that the continuity and expertise the organization offers will enable our business to grow further.”

Focus on continuity and future prospects

For Johan Duister and Sjaak Branderhorst, the sale was more than just a business transaction. After more than three decades of entrepreneurship, they were looking for a buyer that not only was a good fit for the companies but could also ensure long-term continuity and provide opportunities for further development.

Together with Sjaak and Johan, JM Corporate Finance therefore set out to find a suitable buyer. It was important to find a buyer that was a good fit for the companies and could ensure the continuity of Mabotec and Hydroplus, while keeping the interests of their employees, customers, and business partners in mind.

Van Halteren Technologies is a buyer that is an excellent fit for the activities and ambitions of both companies. Their shared technological expertise and the opportunities to combine their knowledge and capabilities provide a solid foundation for achieving further growth.

To ensure a smooth transition, Johan and Sjaak will remain involved with Mabotec and Hydroplus for some time after the acquisition. This will allow them to contribute to a thorough transfer of knowledge, relationships, and responsibilities.

A process in which collaboration makes all the difference

A sale process requires not only thorough preparation and a suitable buyer, but also close collaboration, clear communication, and attention to the interests of all parties involved. This is especially true when entrepreneurs, after many years, part ways with the company they have built from the ground up.

Johan Duister reflects on the support provided by JM Corporate Finance as follows:

“ JM Corporate Finance provided us with excellent and highly professional guidance throughout the sale process for our businesses, and we particularly enjoyed working with Jorn de Brouwer as our transaction manager.”

Sjaak Branderhorst also looks back positively on the collaboration:

“In JM Corporate Finance , we found a professional organization that guided us very well all the way through to closing. Throughout the entire process, we maintained close contact with Jorn de Brouwer. At key moments and whenever necessary, we held extensive discussions about the next steps and the provision of the required information, sometimes well into the late hours.”

This feedback underscores the importance of dedicated guidance and communication throughout the entire sale process, focusing not only on the transaction but also on the entrepreneurs, their interests, and their future plans.

Thank you for your trust

JM Corporate Finance We congratulate Sjaak Branderhorst and Johan Duister on this significant milestone and thank them for their trust and pleasant collaboration throughout the entire process.

We would also like to thank Michel van Dongen of Vermetten, the auditor for Mabotec and Hydroplus, for providing the financial information needed for, among other things, the valuation, the information memorandum, and the due diligence review, as well as for his input and coordination throughout the process. We would also like to thank Tom van Balen and Amila Vranac-Kasumovic of VDT Advocaten for their cooperation and legal guidance during the final phase of the transaction.

We would also like to thank the management of Van Halteren Technologies and Leo Bos, corporate finance adviser to VHT, for their constructive cooperation throughout the sale process.

We wish Peter de Graaff, Managing Director, and the employees of Mabotec and Hydroplus, as well as the entire team at Van Halteren Technologies, every success in the continued development of both companies and, above all, much enjoyment in realizing their shared ambitions!