News Archive

News Archive

Press releases and news

23.12.2017  // Donation drive at the Christmas party raises EUR270,000 for the AURELIUS Refugee Initiative

  • Numerous projects successfully implemented in 2017
  • Increased involvement planned for 2018, especially for integration projects in Germany

21.12.2017  // AURELIUS successfully closes the Studienkreis Group exit

  • Selling price EUR 71.7 million
  • Multiple of capital employed of 11.6x
  • Significant increase in revenues and profitability after successful realignment by AURELIUS following acquisition in 2013
  • Record dividend for 2017 of EUR 5.00 per share

21.12.2017  // Aurelius acquires UK-based Connect Books

  • European multi-channel wholesaler, distributor and retailer of books with revenues of approx. EUR 250 million in 2017
  • Non-core asset of UK-listed Connect Group as it focuses on its specialist logistics business
  • Significant potential for the AURELIUS operating model
  • Connect Books to be rebranded back to Bertram Group

20.12.2017  // AURELIUS Refugee Initiative e.V. supports “Plant-a-Talent”

  • Non-profit organisation places refugees in vacant jobs
  • Work as a key element for integration
  • More than 125 candidates already placed successfully

19.12.2017  // AURELIUS portfolio company Cargill Animal Nutrition Switzerland renamed “Granovit”

  • Rebranding to be completed by early February 2018
  • Customer focus to be even stronger in future

14.12.2017  // AURELIUS School for Syrian refugee children in Turkey

  • AURELIUS Refugee Initiative e.V. to fund a school for Syrian refugees in Turkey
  • Improved prospects of a return to their home country for refugee children and their families after the conflict in Syria has ended

06.12.2017  // AURELIUS subsidiary Office Depot Europe solidly on the path to sustained profitability and growth

  • Comprehensive turnaround program until mid-2019
  • Stronger focus on e-commerce and customer satisfaction
  • Initial positive results of Realignment

05.12.2017  // AURELIUS Executive Board to propose payment of record dividend of EUR 5.00 per share

  • Base dividend rises to EUR 1.50 per share (+ 50 %)
  • Participation dividend from successful exits of EUR 3.50 per share
  • Change in dividend policy – basic dividend raised permanently, dividends from this year’s exits to be spread over several years
  • Current dividend return of over 9%

01.12.2017  // AURELIUS wins “Private Equity Turnaround of the Year” award for successful exit from Getronics

  • Recognition by prestigious Institute for Turnaround (IFT) for the Group’s most successful exit to date
  • Jury impressed by the strategic realignment and substantial growth of Getronics under the AURELIUS umbrella

30.11.2017  // AURELIUS expands Executive Board

  • CFO Steffen Schiefer to become Executive Board Member
  • Fritz Seemann to join the Executive Board with focus on realignment of portfolio companies
  • Basis created for further growth

29.11.2017  // Aurelius acquires Spanish core board and solid board packaging specialist Abelan

  • Deal represents Aurelius’ third acquisition in the European packaging sector since 2015
  • Three manufacturing facilities in Spain and France
  • Projected revenues of c.€70m in 2017
  • Closing expected for end December 2017

22.11.2017  // AURELIUS sells Studienkreis Group

  • Selling price EUR 71.7 million
  • Significant increase in revenues and profitability after successful reorganisation by AURELIUS following acquisition in 2013

17.11.2017  // AURELIUS subsidiary GHOTEL continues to expand

  • Three new hotel openings signed in Bochum and Düsseldorf
  • GHOTEL group positioned as an approved franchisee
  • Additional hotel projects in planning

06.11.2017  // AURELIUS acquires Cargill’s Switzerland-based animal feed business

  • Extensive product and service know-how in animal feed with state-of-the-art production sites in Switzerland
  • AURELIUS’ positioning as expert in complex carve-out situations again re-confirmed

27.10.2017  // AURELIUS Equity Opportunities: First nine months of 2017 characterized by successful transactions – EBITDA of the combined Group nearly quintupled

  • Total consolidated revenues at EUR 3,133.7 million (+46% year-over-year)
  • EBITDA of the combined Group at EUR 575.1 million (+371% year-over-year)
  • Record exits of Secop and Getronics contributed substantially to the result
  • NAV of portfoliorises to EUR 1,521.5 million despite dividends and share retirements
  • Cash portfolio at a record level
  • Outlook remains positive – financial year 2017 will be a new record year

01.09.2017  // AURELIUS successfully completes acquisition of Danish do-it-yourself retail chain Silvan

  • Already the fifth acquisition in the current financial year
  • AURELIUS’s presence in Scandinavia pays off
  • Transaction pipeline remains well filled

10.08.2017  // AURELIUS Equity Opportunities reports successful results for the first half of 2017

  • Total consolidated revenues of EUR 2,282.9 million (+66% over H1 2016)
  • Already four new acquisitions in the first half of 2017
  • EBITDA for the combined group at EUR 303.0 million (+ 204% over H1 2016), positive earnings effects from record sales (SECOP, Getronics) to follow in the third quarter
  • Operating EBITDA of Group companies at EUR 75.7 million (+59% over H1 2016)
  • Net asset value rises to EUR 1,475.6 million, despite dividend payment and share retirement
  • Record earnings expected for 2017; outlook is still very positive

01.08.2017  // AURELIUS Refugee Initiative e.V. supports "Haus des Lernens"

  • Financing after-hours school tuition for Syrian refugee children in Lebanon
  • Future prospects for refugee children and their families as incentives for staying close to their Syrian home

31.07.2017  // AURELIUS successfully closes sale of compressor manufacturer SECOP to the Nidec-Group

  • Sales price EUR 185 million
  • Approx. EUR 100 million positive effect on Group profit
  • Two very successful disposals so far this year, with sales proceeds totaling more than EUR 400 million
  • 2017 will be the most successful year in the history of AURELIUS

10.07.2017  // AURELIUS acquires Danish Do-It-Yourself retail chain Silvan

  • One of the largest Do-It-Yourself retailers in the Nordic region
  • AURELIUS’ positioning as expert in corporate spin-offs and difficult carve-outs re-confirmed
  • AURELIUS' presence in Scandinavia continues to pay off

07.07.2017  // AURELIUS: Sale of the Getronics Group completed – Biggest exit in history

  • Sales price EUR 220 million, cash multiple on money invested 18.5x
  • Positive effect on EBITDA for the combined group of approx. EUR 160 million in third quarter 2017
  • Successful repositioning as a respected ICT partner to medium-sized and large enterprises
  • Substantial growth under the roof of AURELIUS through organic growth and strategic add-on acquisitions
  • Buyer Bottega InvestCo has extensive experience with ICT services

06.07.2017  // AURELIUS sells the Getronics Group– Biggest exit in history

  • Sales price EUR 220 million
  • Successful repositioning as a respected ICT partner to medium-sized and large enterprises
  • Substantial growth under the roof of AURELIUS through organic growth and strategic add-on acquisitions
  • Buyer Bottega InvestCo has extensive experience with ICT services

22.06.2017  // AURELIUS Equity Opportunities SE & Co. KGaA 1.00 per cent EUR 166,300,000 Convertible Bonds due 2020 (ISIN: DE000A168544) (the “Bonds”)

Capitalised terms not otherwise defined in this notice shall have the meaning given to them in the Terms and Conditions of the Bonds.

21.06.2017  // Press release on the 2017 Annual General Meeting

  • Resolution adopted on record dividend of €4.00 per share
  • Transparency will be further increased; in the future, NAVs will also be audited
  • Record year 2017 expected: EBITDA should exceed the €500 million threshold

29.05.2017  // Post-Brexit uncertainty to drive increase in European divestment activity by corporates in 2017

  • Special situations investors likely to be most active acquirers of non-core assets

19.05.2017  // AURELIUS acquires catamaran builder Privilège

  • Privilège set to strengthen AURELIUS in the maritime sector
  • Brand portfolio of AURELIUS subsidiary HanseYachts AG to be complemented
  • Takeover of the Privilège shipyard in Les Sables-d’Olonne (France)
  • Philosophy and production process of HanseYachts and Privilège very similar to a large extent

02.05.2017  // AURELIUS publishes good earnings for Q1 2017

  • Quarterly figures positively impacted by the first-time consolidation of Office Depot Europe
  • EBITDA for the combined group nearly tripled at EUR 293.2 million (Q1 2016: EUR 101.2 million)
  • Operating EBITDA rises 69 percent for Group entities to EUR 41.3 million (Q1 2016: EUR 24.5 million)
  • Successful SECOP exit: dividend proposal increased to EUR 4.00 per share, new share repurchase program launched

24.04.2017  // AURELIUS sells compressor manufacturer SECOP to the Nidec Group and doubles its dividend

  • Sales price €185 m; AURELIUS earns approx. 11 times its invested capital after 7 years
  • Largest exit in AURELIUS’ history
  • Approx. EUR 100 m positive effect on Group profit
  • Sustainable realignment of SECOP leads to strong revenue and earnings growth during AURELIUS’ ownership
  • Strategic buyer Nidec with considerable synergy potential
  • AURELIUS doubles its dividend proposal to EUR 4 per share

29.03.2017  // AURELIUS publishes its 2016 annual report

  • Provisional figures confirmed: total consolidated revenues increase by 44 percent to EUR 2.9 billion
  • Operating performance positive despite the sale of profitable and the acquisition of unprofitable Group entities
  • Fiscal year 2016 characterized by eight company acquisitions and seven exits
  • Dividend proposal of EUR 2.00 per share; increase possible in the event of additional successful exits before the annual general meeting; expansion of share buybacks
  • Solid balance sheet figures and further increase in net asset value to EUR 1.4 billion
  • Positive outlook for the current 2017 fiscal year

28.03.2017  // Statement by AURELIUS Equity Opportunities SE & Co. KGaA on the short attack by Gotham City and outlook on the development of the business

  • Allegations of short-seller Gotham unfounded and distorting reality
  • Share buy-back stepped-up: EUR 50m immediately, additionally EUR 160m as of June 21, 2017

07.03.2017  // AURELIUS recognised at the prestigious Private Equity International Awards 2016

  • AURELIUS wins “Special Situations/Turnaround firm of the Year” at the 2016 Private Equity International Awards

06.03.2017  // AURELIUS publishes provisional figures for 2016

  • Further robust growth of total consolidated revenues to EUR 2.9 billion
  • Satisfactory operating performance despite the acquisition of unprofitable and sale of profitable Group entities
  • Fiscal year 2016 characterized by eight company acquisitions and seven sales
  • Dividend proposal of EUR 2.00 per share, increase possible in the event of additional successful sales before the annual general meeting
  • Solid financial resources permit considerable expansion of the share buyback program

02.03.2017  // AURELIUS acquires Wex Photographic

  • Online retailer with half a million customers across the UK
  • Integration with Calumet Photographic to offer significant synergies and create leading multi-channel, pan-European photographic retailer
  • Combination of Wex Photographic with Calumet Photographic brings AURELIUS’ pan-European photographic retail businesses to combined revenues of EUR 175 million

27.02.2017  // Calumet Photographic with Gold Service award at the Amateur Photography ceremony in London

  • Milton Keynes company scoops top customer service prize for sixth year running

02.01.2017  // AURELIUS completes its acquisition of Office Depot Europe

  • Office Depot Europe boasts strong brands and Europe-wide set-up.
  • Brisk transaction activity in 2016: Annualized consolidated revenues rise to approx. EUR 4.5 billion.