THE PACKMAN

Navigator Capital acquires Sapal from Bosch Packaging Technology

Mahan Hazarika
The Navigator Group is planning to acquire the engineering company Sapal S.A., Ecublens, Switzerland, from Bosch’s packaging technology division. Corresponding contracts were signed on 5 September 2017. Sapal is part of the packaging machinery division of the Bosch Group and is a company with a long tradition and a high reputation, which is focused on diefold packaging. More than 6,000 installed plants worldwide testify to the appreciation that customers bring to the Swiss precision machines. With the takeover by the Navigator Group, some 80 employees will have a long-term perspective in the focused development of an independently operating unit.
The production site in Ecublens has a long history. The company was founded by Jean-Jacques Köhler in 1906 and has set standards with high-precision packaging technology from the outset. In 2004, Sapal became part of Bosch’s packaging division through the takeover of SIG Group by Bosch. Today, Sapal is one of the technology leaders in diefolding packaging of cheese under the well-known Kustner brand, and of soup cubes and chocolate.
The Navigator Group acquires Sapal through a share deal. The parties agreed on the non-disclosure of the purchase price. The acquirer was particularly impressed by the numerous certifications, a traditional focus on education and training, the product and customer quality, the excellent machinery and the highly motivated and qualified employees. At the same time, Navigator Capital was able to convince the seller with experience, motivation and a sustainable investment strategy.

[quote style=’2′ cite=”]Since mid-2016, the Navigator Group has been active as a holding company on the market and acquires companies that are either not part of the core business of the vendor or require structural adjustments. By now, Sapal is Navigator Group’s third investment. The Group’s six partners are based in Munich, Düsseldorf, Zurich, London and Paris. Our team of experienced transaction, financing and restructuring experts emphasizes the development of tailor-made transaction structures and continuity concepts, which address both the needs of the sell-side as well as the strengthening of the operational success of our portfolio companies.[/quote]

The Navigator Group sees itself as an active investor who is providing advice and assistance to the acquired companies without curtailing the necessary self-initiative on the ground. Therefore, it was important for Navigator Capital that Sapal’s management, which is highly experienced and well-regarded by customers and workforce alike, will stay on board.

Dietmar Gundel, Partner of Navigator Group, says, “I had a very good impression at the very first contact: quality of the machines, market potential and highly motivated employees form an excellent basis for further development of the company.”

“As a stand-alone company, we see a good opportunity for Sapal to flexibly operate the business in this volatile niche market and to continue to develop profitably in the long-term. In addition, since there is hardly any synergy potential with other Bosch Packaging Technology divisions, we decided to sell Sapal to the Navigator Group,” explains Jakob Bleiker, head of business unit food, Bosch Packaging Technology.

Claudio Manfroni, former and future CEO of Sapal, said, “We have conducted many investor discussions. The positive momentum of the Navigator group was from the beginning and has steadily increased during the course of the audit process. I am convinced that with the Navigator Group, we have found a suitable new owner with whom we can successfully drive the business of Sapal.”