CERTANIA Announces Growth Capital Raise from Summit Partners
Munich, Germany (28 August 2023) – CERTANIA Holding GmbH (“CERTANIA” or “the Company”), a provider of Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC) services focused on addressing global challenges across health and sustainability, today announced a growth investment from Summit Partners.
The funding will be used to further support CERTANIA’s acquisition strategy and help position the Company as a leading TIC provider in Europe and beyond. Founding investor GREENPEAK Partners will maintain significant equity ownership in the Company. Financial terms of the transaction are not disclosed.
Founded in 2020 and based in Munich, Germany, CERTANIA united leading companies in its field to form a new independent market player with a global footprint serving customers across the whole chain of TIC services. From the beginning, the Company has focused serving two key market sectors: health and sustainability, putting human well-being and a functioning environment at the center of its mission. Under the CERTANIA umbrella, partner companies benefit from shared operational infrastructure and improved customer confidence that may otherwise prove elusive to smaller operators – all while maintaining their unique identity and entrepreneurial spark.
“This investment is a testament to our commitment to drive positive change in the TIC landscape,” said Karsten Xander and Moritz Gruber, co-CEOs at CERTANIA . “We believe that, by fostering collaboration among independent experts and focusing on sustainability and health consciousness, we can create visible value for our partners, clients and the wider community. Summit Partners’ engagement will help boost our global development. We look forward to benefiting from their deep experience in the TIC market and to maintaining the well-established and trustful relationship with GREENPEAK Partners as specialists for entrepreneurial company building.”
Today, CERTANIA includes sixteen partner companies and employs more than 1,000 professionals across the globe. The Company offers an extensive portfolio of services, including expertise in the areas of food, environmental and industrial testing, CRO services, ESG analytics and consulting, and a broad range of certification and quality-control services, all with the goal of helping clients ensure the safety and quality of their products and processes.
“CERTANIA has achieved impressive scale in just three years since the Company’s founding, and we believe the platform offers a unique opportunity for independent TIC providers who are looking to expand their reach and impact,” said Johannes Grefe, Managing Director at Summit Partners who will join the CERTANIA Board of Directors. “We are thrilled to partner with this visionary team and look forward to working together with co-CEOs Karsten and Moritz and Daniel Beringer at GREENPEAK to build upon CERTANIA’s impressive momentum and support continued organic and acquisition-driven growth.”
“We are excited and honored to have Summit Partners by our side,” added Daniel Beringer, Founding Partner at GREANPEAK Partners. “Together, we will continue to focus on making our planet more sustainable and healthier by expanding CERTANIA’s reach geographically and by growing its service offerings to its customers.”
The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to close in Q4 2023.
About CERTANIA:
Under the umbrella of CERTANIA Holding GmbH, a new global market player is created in the field of Testing, Inspection & Certification as well as scientific, laboratory and compliance services. This group offers medium-sized partners a sustainable home for their life’s work. CERTANIA enables entrepreneurs and owners to further develop their companies with like-minded people, while continuing to preserve their entrepreneurial roots, corporate culture, brand and values.
For more information visit the website www.certania.de
About GREENPEAK:
GREENPEAK Partners is a company builder with proven track record and comprehensive expertise in the foundation, development, and expansion of industry leaders. While executing its Buy & Build strategies, GREENPEAK aims to develop industry leaders by virtue of strong partnerships, ESG values, and aligned sustainable interests.
To date, the GREENPEAK Partners team has built over 10 platforms, with annual revenues exceeding €1 billion. For more information, please see www.greenpeak-partners.com or Follow on Linkedin.
About Summit Partners:
Founded in 1984, Summit Partners is a global alternative investment firm that is currently managing more than $37 billion in capital dedicated to growth equity, fixed income and public equity opportunities. Summit invests across growth sectors of the economy and has invested in more than 550 companies in technology, healthcare and other growth industries. Summit maintains offices in North America and Europe, and invests in companies around the world.
For more information visit the website www.summitpartners.com
SGI Holdings Ltd. sells its continental European business to CERTANIA
Established in 1985, SGI Compliance has a rich history which has led the company to develop into a well-known market player with a large and loyal customer base in the Netherlands, Norway, Belgium and France. SGI Compliance specializes in services related to carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic (CMR) hazardous chemicals, as well as water hygiene. In 2019, LDC, a leading private equity firm, invested
to back the management buyout of SGI Compliance from the global testing, inspection and certification group, Kiwa. This also included its activities in the UK, operating under the name HSL Compliance.
CERTANIA is a rapidly growing testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) provider with a mission to support its customers as an independent partner, promoting quality, sustainability and health transparency in companies and their ecosystems. CERTANIA operates across various segments, including life science, food & environment, ESG advice & analytics, certification & verification, sustainable materials and structures. CERTANIA is backed by GREENPEAK Partners.
CERTANIA will leverage its expertise in water hygiene services in order to strengthen this segment within SGI Compliance. Conversely, SGI Compliance’s hazardous materials experience will be integrated into CERTANIA’s core geographies, utilizing the existing infrastructure as a launch pad while maintaining the management team at SGI Compliance.
“CERTANIA is known for its pragmatic customer-centric approach and commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles. The mission and vision of SGI Compliance align seamlessly with CERTANIA’s approach. Under the umbrella of CERTANIA, SGI Compliance will continue to operate independently, leveraging the synergies and growth opportunities arising from our partnership”, says Sytze Voulon, CEO of SGI Compliance.
Moritz Gruber, managing director of CERTANIA: “We are delighted to welcome SGI Compliance to CERTANIA. While we operate as one cohesive company, our philosophy emphasizes local empowerment and values managers with a strong entrepreneurial spirit. Our plan is to maintain SGI Compliance as an independent entity while fostering collaboration, providing management support, and actively contributing to the company’s development.”
About CERTANIA:
Under the umbrella of CERTANIA Holding GmbH, a new global market player is created in the field of Testing, Inspection & Certification as well as scientific, laboratory and compliance services. This group offers medium-sized partners a sustainable home for their life’s work. CERTANIA enables entrepreneurs and owners to further develop their companies with like-minded people, while continuing to preserve their entrepreneurial roots, corporate culture, brand and values.
About SGI Compliance:
SGI Compliance is a European risk and compliance leader, specialising in water, hazardous materials, fire safety and associated Health Safety and Environmental services. It runs operations in Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium and France and serves customers such as energy providers, commercial real estate companies, maritime companies and industrials.
About GREENPEAK Partners:
GREENPEAK Partners is a company builder with proven track record and comprehensive expertise in the foundation, development, and expansion of industry leaders. While executing its Buy & Build strategies, GREENPEAK aims to develop industry leaders by virtue of strong partnerships, ESG values, and aligned sustainable interests. To date, the GREENPEAK Partners team has built over 10 platforms, with annual revenues exceeding €1bn.
Celebrating a Successful First Half of the Year!
Press Release - CERTANIA Becomes New Shareholder for Labosport Group
CERTANIA is a dynamic holding company that oversees an entrepreneurial group of specialized entities focusing on testing, certification, and consultancy services. These companies operate in various industrial sectors, but all share a focus on health and sustainability. Strong synergies between the Labosport Group and CERTANIA will create exciting prospects for fruitful collaborations. To learn more about CERTANIA and its operations, please visit their website here.
The Labosport Group brands, culture and contact persons will remain unchanged, and Labosport’s mission will remain focused on delivering testing, certification, and consultancy services for sport surfaces, sport infrastructure, and sport equipment.
CERTANIA, founded in 2020 in Munich, Germany, started its development with companies based in Germany. It has recently initiated its internationalization. Labosport’s truly global footprint is an important development for the Group. Karsten Xander, CERTANIA co-founder and CEO with long-standing experience in the testing and certification industry, is proud to welcome Labosport as a new partner. “Labosport is the global market leader in testing and certification of sports surfaces,” stated Karsten Xander. “With its unparalleled depth and breadth of expertise in this segment, combined with superior customer service, Labosport will continue delivering unique value to its clients.”
CERTANIA has appointed Prof. David James as the new Labosport Group CEO. David has been successfully serving as the Managing Director of Labosport UK for the past five years. Expressing his thoughts on the appointment, David stated, “It is a true honour to lead the Labosport Group. The work that Labosport delivers, and our commitment to quality, fills me with immense pride. My role of CEO will be pursued with unwavering energy and dedication, fuelled by my genuine passion for sport, science, and engineering.”
The new relationship with CERTANIA and the appointment of Prof. David James as CEO establishes a new chapter in the Labosport story that will advance its global presence in sport testing, certification, and consultancy services.
About CERTANIA:
Under the umbrella of CERTANIA Holding GmbH, a group of companies is created in the field of Testing, Inspection & Certification as well as scientific, laboratory and compliance services. This group offers medium-sized partners a sustainable home for their life’s work. CERTANIA enables entrepreneurs and owners to further develop their companies with like-minded people, while continuing to preserve their entrepreneurial roots, corporate culture, brand and values. CERTANIA is part of GREENPEAK Partners.
About GREENPEAK Partners:
GREENPEAK Partners is a company builder with proven track record and comprehensive expertise in the foundation, development, and expansion of industry leaders within the German, Austrian, and Swiss markets. While executing its Buy & Build strategies, GREENPEAK aims to develop industry leaders by virtue of strong partnerships, ESG values, and aligned sustainable interests. To date, the GREENPEAK Partners team has built 7 platforms, with annual revenues exceeding €500m.
GREENPEAK Partners Proudly Joins ESG Data Convergence Initiative for Second Year
The EDCI brings together stakeholders from the private equity industry with the objective to harmonize ESG data, set common standards and provide valid benchmarks for private markets.
“The collaborative effort of the initiative is highly aligned with GREENPEAK’s purpose of “Building sustainable businesses and partnerships”, says Daniel Beringer, Managing Partner at GREENPEAK Partners. “By joining forces with the 300+ EDCI members, we contribute to enhancing transparency, comparability, and ultimately drive more impactful sustainable investing practices.”
As further proof of its thorough commitment to ESG integration, GREENPEAK Partners has successfully fulfilled the maximum number of ESG thresholds required by the debt provider for three of GREENPEAK’s Buy & Build platforms. This reflects the firm’s dedication to fulfill the highest ESG standards beyond the norm.
” GREENPEAK Partners has developed a state-of-the art ESG framework and integrates it across all investment activities,” states Valentina Stadler, ESG Officer at GREENPEAK Partners. “Reaching maximum ESG thresholds highlights the dedication to aligning financial performance with positive environmental and social outcomes.”
By participating in the ESG Data Convergence Initiative and exceeding ESG thresholds, GREENPEAK Partners demonstrates its proactive approach to fostering partnerships, building networks and maintaining ambitious ESG standards.
ABOUT GREENPEAK PARTNERS
GREENPEAK Partners is a company builder with proven track record and comprehensive expertise in the foundation, development, and expansion of industry leaders within the German, Austrian, and Swiss markets. While executing its Buy & Build strategies, GREENPEAK aims to develop industry leaders by virtue of strong partnerships, ESG values, and aligned sustainable interests.
To date, the GREENPEAK Partners team has built 7 platforms, with annual revenues exceeding €500m.
For more information on GREENPEAK Partners, please refer to its website: www.greenpeak-partners.com & our ESG policy.
New GREENPEAK Offices in London & Munich
Hexagon-EAM-specialist Spectades B.V. joins ROBUR
Enterprise Asset Management specialist Spectades B.V. (Brielle, The Netherlands) becomes part of ROBUR. The group is thus further expanding its leading EAM market position and further rounds out the portfolio for everything to do with digital and industrial transformation in industrial services for the leading industrial and energy companies in Europe.
“We are one of the most established teams in the entire EAM market in Europe and without a doubt the company with the most experience and with the most successful implementations of HxGN EAM” explains Jan Doorduin, one of the managing directors and owners of Spectades B.V. “We operate in Europe in a market that is growing together more and more, so that in recent years we have also been able to get to know RODIAS and their broad Enterprise Asset Management expertise as a valued coopetition partner. This gave rise to the idea of intensified cooperation in a group of companies.” continues Mark Jansen, Co-Managing Director for Account Management and Sales of Spectades.
“The Spectades management team has built up an excellent market position and reputation and is therefore a crucial building block for us to make our strategy of a European EAM provider come true,” says Dennis Mausberg, Senior Partner of ROBUR and CEO of the Business Unit Industrial Transformation. “We are looking forward to having Spectades, the HxGN EAM expert in Europe, in the group and to further expanding our teams on this platform together,” adds André Panné from the sister company RODIAS which is already part of ROBUR.
Based on the many years of experience of the company founders (Jan Doorduin, Ron Wagner, Anil Laldjie, Mark Jansen), Spectades has set a benchmark in terms of quality and efficiency in the European EAM consulting landscape. Their in-depth knowledge and expertise, paired with an excellent approach to integrating near and off-shore experts, makes them an example of contemporary, decentralized IT integration services.
“We want to support the industry in the challenges of transformation with our know-how, our experience, and our range of services. Be it about classic industrial services, or especially with the modernization, digitization, and automation of our customers’ systems,” explains Jan-Jörg Müller-Seiler, Managing Partner and CEO of ROBUR. “With Spectades and the experienced management team, we have found the perfect addition to our portfolio and are delighted that Jan and his team have become part of ROBUR and will thus further strengthen the Industrial Transformation business unit. We are already doing more than 1/3 of our turnover in ROBUR by supporting our customers’ digital and industrial transformation and we want to and will continue to grow,” adds Müller-Seiler.
“As an industrial service specialist, ROBUR is constantly striving to expand the group of specialists to include such experts who supplement our portfolio with additional services. With Jan and Mark, we quickly realized that we share a common set of values and the idea of cooperation. We have accordingly consistently then laid the foundations for a common future in ROBUR.” Florian Kopp, co-founder and managing partner of ROBUR, explains this step towards further expansion of the group.
“We still have a lot planned as ROBUR. With the Spectades team, we have laid another building block for the successful international growth of the group and are thus living up to our claim as a leading full-service provider for ecological and industrial change – welcome to the team!” explains Jan-Jörg Müller-Seiler.
JASCHEK MT strengthens ROBUR's Relocation and Installation expertise.
The relocation and installation specialist JASCHEK MT (Munich, Regensburg, Bamberg) becomes part of ROBUR and thus strengthens the group’s portfolio in this area around the existing ROBUR partners TEC (Dormagen) and WIR (Eltmann).
“As JASCHEK MT, we can look back on more than 40 years of experience in the smooth execution of complex industrial assemblies,” explains Tommy Füllner, Managing Director and owner of JASCHEK MT “During this time, colleagues from ROBUR kept running into us and after initially appreciative competition, we realized over time that we complement each other excellently in our product portfolio and in our customer segments,” continues Tommy Füllner out.
“Tommy and his team have a lot of experience and together we want to further expand our market position in the automotive sector,” says Dennis Mausberg, Senior Partner at ROBUR and CEO of the Industrial Transformation business unit. “Here we can optimally interlock our service portfolio with one another, supplemented by offers in the field of steel construction and an expanded vehicle fleet. This is how we offer our customers a holistic offer and generate considerable added value for them,” adds Dennis Mausberg.
With its extensive machine park and locations in Munich, Regensburg and Bamberg, JASCHEK MT can provide further hubs for ROBUR on the one hand and can also fall back on the many locations of the group in Germany and Europe.
“We want to support the industry in the challenges of transformation with our know-how, our experience, and our range of services. Be it modernization, digitization, automation or relocation or installation of our customers’ systems,” explains Jan-Jörg Müller-Seiler, Managing Partner and CEO of ROBUR. “With JASCHEK MT and Tommy we have found the perfect addition to our portfolio, and we are pleased that he and his team have become part of ROBUR and that they would also like to take on an active role in Dennis’ Industrial Transformation business unit,” adds Müller-Seiler.
“ROBUR is an industrial service specialist and as such we strive to constantly expand our group of specialists and to supplement our portfolio of services. The exchange with Tommy was friendly, cordial and based on partnership right from the start and it was therefore quickly clear that the team at JASCHEK MT will be an enrichment for the whole group”, Florian Kopp, co-founder and Managing Partner of ROBUR, explains this step towards further expansion of the group.
“We still have a lot planned as ROBUR. With Tommy and his team, we have laid another building block for the successful growth of the group and are thus living up to our claim as a leading full-service provider for ecological and industrial change – welcome to the team!” concludes Jan-Jörg Müller-Seiler.