Frankfurt am Main / Hattingen – Funds advised by Gilde Buy Out Partners (“Gilde”) are pleased to announce that Gilde reached a binding agreement to acquire TonerPartner from its current shareholders Invision and its founding family. The terms of the agreement have not been disclosed. The transaction is subject to customary merger clearance approvals.
Founded in 1993 and based in Hattingen, TonerPartner is one of Europe’s leading online retailers specialised in the marketing of ink, toner, and printer cartridges for a wide range of printers in 16 European countries. The company offers one of the broadest portfolios of original branded products, high quality white label and own branded compatible alternatives, as well as environmentally friendly recycled products. TonerPartner has a loyal and growing end customer base with more than 4 million B2B and B2C customers served in recent years.
Peter Kroha, Partner at Invision, commented on the transaction:
“We want to thank everyone at TonerPartner for their partnership and trust since our initial investment in 2016. We are proud of what has been achieved by this highly dedicated team and are delighted to have been able to support the company in becoming the leader in the European printing consumables segment. We are very pleased with the progress the company has made under our ownership and wish the team every success going forward. We are confident that TonerPartner will continue to prosper under its new owner Gilde.”
Andreas Klab, Partner at Gilde, added:
“We are impressed with TonerPartner’s track record of consistent growth, entrepreneurial spirit as well as its ability to fundamentally understand and cater to the demands of its customers. Under the leadership of its founding family and with support from Invision, the company has achieved a leading position in Europe. TonerPartner is well placed to build on this solid foundation and remain the most reliable player of scale within the printing consumables segment. We are excited to support TonerPartner in this next phase of development and growth.”
The founder of TonerPartner and Julian Zweers, Managing Director of TonerPartner, said:
“We are thankful and humbled by the development of TonerPartner since its foundation almost 30 years ago. We have not only experienced exciting years with strong growth but have also pioneered the online segment in printing consumables. First and foremost, we would like to express our gratitude to all the staff at TonerPartner for their continued contribution and commitment over many years. The partnership with Invision was an outstanding one, which enabled TonerPartner to expand to regions outside of Germany. We are convinced that the sale of TonerPartner to Gilde will allow the company to further strengthen its position in the European market for printing consumables.”
About TonerPartner
Founded in 1993 and based in Hattingen (Germany), TonerPartner is one of Europe’s leading online retailers specialised in the marketing of toner and ink cartridges for a wide range of printers in 16 European countries. The company offers one of the broadest portfolios of original branded products, high quality white label and own branded compatible alternatives, as well as environmentally friendly recycled products. TonerPartner has a loyal and growing end customer base with more than 4 million B2B and B2C customers served in recent years. As of today, the company employs more than 130 employees.
For more information, please visit www.tonerpartner.de.
About Invision
Since its foundation in 1997, Invision has become a leading private equity firm focused on succes-sions and growth buyouts in German-speaking regions. Over this period, Invision invested more than EUR 500 million in over 50 companies and achieved sustainable value creation for its portfolio companies. Invision is an entrepreneurial partner to founders, businesses, and management teams. The aim is always to adapt to the specific needs of all stakeholders by developing customised solutions to fit each specific situation and need.
For more information, please visit www.invision.ch, or contact Peter Kroha, Partner and Managing Director Invision Germany, at kroha@invision.ch.
About Gilde Buy Out Partners
Gilde Buy Out Partners is a leading European private equity investor in mid-market transactions with operations in the DACH region and the Benelux. Gilde manages funds in excess of EUR 3 billion and has offices in Frankfurt, Zurich, Utrecht, and Brussels. Since its inception in 1982, Gilde has supported more than 250 companies to realize their growth ambitions. Recent investments include e.g. Corilus, Eichholtz, Xindao, Gundlach, Kinkelder, and Caseking.
For more information, please visit www.gilde.com, or contact Maikel Wieland, Investor Relations Gilde Buy Out Partners, at wieland@gilde.com.