Funds advised by KLAR Partners Limited (“KLAR Partners” or “KLAR”) make their first investment in the industrial technology sector as growth partner in GMC-Instruments GmbH (“GMC-Instruments” or the “Company”). GMC Instruments is a leading provider of mission-critical electrical test and measurement solutions headquartered in Germany.
GMC-Instruments provides a comprehensive suite of instruments, systems, software solutions and services to inspect and certify the electrical safety of technical installations, medical and industrial equipment, communication, transportation and energy infrastructure as well as to optimize power quality needs and energy consumption. Marketed through its well-known brand portfolio of Gossen Metrawatt, Seaward, Camille Bauer, Dranetz and Rigel Medical among others, the Company has been at the forefront of electrical safety technology for more than 100 years. In 2022, GMC-Instruments generated revenues of c. EUR 120 million.
The partnership is in line with KLAR’s strategy to invest in companies operating in business services and industrial technology sectors benefiting from strong tailwinds: GMC-Instruments is seeing significant growth opportunities driven by favourable megatrends such as the energy transition and stricter energy efficiency requirements.
KLAR Partners joins Dr. Hans-Peter Opitz, the Company’s founder and controlling shareholder, to accelerate GMC-I’s growth, in particular in the fast-growing renewable and e-mobility segments. Dr. Opitz will retain a significant minority stake and continue to serve as Group CEO until a successor has been appointed as part of the planned succession of Dr. Opitz. Peter van den Broek, previously CEO of Leica Microsystems and Senior Vice President at Fluke Corporation, will join the Company’s Advisory Board as Chairman.
“We are honoured to be trusted as a partner by Dr. Opitz and to join the highly skilled GMC-Instruments team to continue building on the Company’s tradition of technological innovation. We look forward to contributing KLAR’s expertise and accelerating the profitable growth journey of the Company as a provider of mission-critical technology for the world’s energy transition”, commented Ahmet Mesinoglu of KLAR Partners.
“In KLAR Partners we welcome a reliable partner with extensive sector expertise and the resources to further support our growth, both organically and through acquisitions. I look forward to continuing to support the Company as a shareholder and member of the Advisory Board”, said Dr. Hans-Peter Opitz, Managing Director of GMC-Instruments GmbH and its parent Apricum Capital GmbH.
KLAR’s acquisition of GMC-Instruments is conditional upon regulatory approvals from the competent authorities.
About KLAR Partners
KLAR Partners is a European private equity firm focused on investments in companies operating in business services and industrial technology. The companies in which KLAR invests each have an annual turnover of approximately EUR 50-500m and are headquartered in the DACH, Nordics and Benelux regions. With investment professionals located in London, Stockholm, Frankfurt, and Brussels, together with a broad international network in the industry, KLAR has a proven business model to support, develop and grow companies. KLAR’s senior professionals have worked together for many years and have more than 50 years of combined investment experience in KLAR’s industry-specific and geographical focus area. KLAR Partners is a signatory of United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment. KLAR Partners is a signatory of United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment.