Satteins/Vienna, 26 January 2024: Trilantic Europe, a leading European private equity firm with a dedicated energy transition strategy, acquires a 60% stake in AEROCOMPACT Group, a leading supplier of solar mounting solutions specializing in the development, production and distribution of substructures for mounting photovoltaic modules. This investment will accelerate the company’s growth plan internationally, leveraging its strong growth momentum and the quality of its solar mounting solutions. Founder Mathias Muther will remain a significant shareholder with a 40% stake in the company through his private foundation. The transaction will leave AEROCOMPACT with a flexible and strong capital structure to invest in growth in the coming years.
AEROCOMPACT is a dynamic pioneer of the energy transition and aims to become a global player in the solar industry. The products of the company with roots in Vorarlberg, Austria, are already installed in more than 50 countries around the world.
Mathias Muther, founder of AEROCOMPACT, said: "Our strong growth trajectory since the company was founded around ten years ago shows that there is enormous potential in our products and engineering services. The entry of Trilantic Europe opens up the opportunity to accelerate our growth plan to expand our international market presence and seek potential acquisitions even further. Thanks to the international reach of our new shareholder Trilantic Europe, both in the renewable energy sector and in the capital market, we can pursue this goal with full vigor. We are very pleased about this extremely positive milestone for our company."
AEROCOMPACT is an exciting opportunity that fits Trilantic Europe’s investment philosophy in the energy transition space. Vittorio Pignatti-Morano, Chairman of Trilantic Europe, commented: "We have been impressed by the quality of AEROCOMPACT’s solar mounting solutions, the growth momentum shown across all its current markets, and the enthusiasm and vision of the entire team. Through our partnership with AEROCOMPACT, we are confident we can accelerate growth even further and create a truly international champion in the solar mounting space, while also delivering on our investment sustainability commitments”.
The transaction is subject to approval by the relevant authorities. AEROCOMPACT was supported by the investment bank William Blair and the Austrian corporate finance boutique Turnkey Finance from Bregenz, while Trilantic Europe was advised by Lazard.
Continuous growth momentum for AEROCOMPACT
AEROCOMPACT maintains its strong growth momentum, and continues to deliver above market growth reaching above EUR 100 million in revenues for the first time in 2023, despite the challenges faced in the solar industry in recent months. In this context, AEROCOMPACT is planning ongoing capacity expansions: The Vienna site, which focuses on software development and the holding company, is relocating to the Ares Tower – the new office offers space for ca. 80 employees. There have also been changes at the headquarters in Satteins, Vorarlberg, Austria: Accounting and Marketing have moved to a new office in nearby Feldkirch due to space constraints. In addition, another office building including a training center for its employees and customers has been built in Satteins. Due to strong demand, the company's own production capacities for PV substructures were ramped up at a new plant in Bulgaria. The production line in Nüziders, Vorarlberg, Austria, which was mainly used for prototype construction, was shut down as a result.
Press CONTACT
AEROCOMPACT Group:
Dieter Bitschnau
clavis Kommunikationsberatung GmbH
Anton-Schneider-Straße 12
6900 Bregenz
Austria
Tel: +43 (0)5574 533 33 13
Mobil: +43 (0)699 160 200 13
dieter.bitschnau@clavis.at
Trilantic Europe:
Agnes Riousse
E: agnes.riousse@citigatedewerogerson.com
T: +44 7770 762828
Laura Banks
E: laura.banks@citigatedewerogerson.com
T: +44 7545 942738
About the AEROCOMPACT Group
The AEROCOMPACT Group is an innovative supplier of solar mounting solutions with a unique combination of engineering expertise, the AEROTOOL® digital platform and global market access. The company's core competence is the development, production and distribution of aerodynamically optimized substructures for mounting photovoltaic modules, taking into account all static requirements, wind and snow loads as well as the highest industry standards and norms. Thanks to the AEROTOOL® digital platform, planners and end customers worldwide can quickly and easily plan solar systems, calculate their cost-effectiveness and order the AEROCOMPACT products required for the substructure in an automated process. AEROCOMPACT was founded in 2014 by Mathias Muther in Schlins, Vorarlberg, Austria. AEROCOMPACT currently employs ca. 150 people worldwide and has subsidiaries in Austria, Germany, the US, India and Bulgaria, as well as its own global sales presence to serve various customer groups such as installers, wholesalers and project developers with system solutions for the Residential, Commercial and Industrial as well as Utility sectors.
More information: https://www.aerocompact.com/en/
About Trilantic Europe
Trilantic Europe is an international private equity firm with significant expertise in investing across Europe and in energy transition. This investment represents an additional milestone in the development of Trilantic Europe’s energy transition franchise, and a clear opportunity to meet its sustainable investment goals in that space. Trilantic Europe is managed by an experienced group of over 30 professionals and 15 operating partners and senior advisors, having invested over €2.7bn in 29 companies since 2004, and currently managing approximately €2.6bn in assets from a wide base of investors.
More information: https://www.trilanticeurope.com