Silverfleet Capital has acquired a majority stake in Staxs Contamination Control Experts, the Benelux distribution of consumable products for cleanrooms in the Life Sciences and other industries. The terms of the transaction have not disclosed.
Founded in 1995 and based in Heerenveen, the Netherlands, Staxs also operates from two Belgian locations in Niel and Aartselaar. The company is a distributor of cleanroom consumables, supplying disinfectants and detergents, wipes, cleaning tools, gloves and disposable garments, whilst also offering laundry services of cleanroom garments.
Staxs has built a reputation for quality and reliability. As a preferred partner for contamination control, the company said it has a strong and loyal customer base in the Netherlands and Belgium and selectively sells into other geographies. The vast majority of its customers are in the Life Sciences industry.
Alex Brebbia, partner at Silverfleet Capital who co-heads Silverfleet’s activities in the lower mid-market, commented: “Staxs is a high quality, well-positioned business with a strong reputation and close customer relationships. We have got to know the company and its current shareholders over a long period of time and are excited by the prospect of working closely with CEO Johan-Detlef Dubbelboer, his management team and employees to support them through in fulfilling Staxs' growth potential.”
Boost for growth
Silverfleet Capital said its investment will enable Staxs to continue its growth trajectory by expanding its product range, customer base and geographic reach, as well as helping to build out the organisation.
Initial projects include expanding the Heerenveen premises to increase capacity, partly to accommodate the increasing volumes of products sold under Dotch, its own brand.
Silverfleet said it will apply its expertise in the healthcare sector having made several successful prior investments including a pharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing business, and a contract sterilisation services company.
The Silverfleet Capital team that worked on the transaction included Alex Brebbia, Erik Fuchs and Peter Kisenyi.
Silverfleet was advised by Deloitte (financial & tax), CIL (commercial), Stek (legal, corporate and banking), and AJ Gallagher (insurance).
The acquisition of Staxs was executed by Silverfleet’s dedicated lower mid-market investment team and was financed in part by the European Investment Fund.