Nordian is pleased to announce that Alltech acquired 100% of the shares in the Coppens International. Coppens International is one of the most innovative, high-quality aquatic nutrition businesses that manufacture a range of fish feed products for the aquaculture industry and hobby segment, with a strong production infrastructure, right in the heart of Europe.
Established in 1993, Coppens International is a respected leader in aquatic feed solutions focused on maximizing feed efficiency. For almost 24 years, Coppens International has earned a strong reputation for being an innovative, high-quality aquatic feed producer.
Until 2011, Coppens International formed part of Coppens Diervoeding, a Dutch provider of feed products, after which it was acquired by Nordian Capital Partners and management. Simultaneously, Nordian and management acquired a former pet food production facility in Nettetal (GER) that has been converted into a fish feed factory. Since then, Coppens International has doubled its sales volume and is converted into a fully stand-alone operating company.
The company’s specialties include temperate and tropical marine and freshwater diets for a variety of juvenile and adult species. The company also produces top-quality ornamental and bait feeds. Active in more than 60 countries around the world, the specialist team at Coppens International have expert knowledge to guarantee high-quality, innovative aquatic feed developed for each fish species at all life stages.
The Coppens International business is spread across three locations. The first, its headquarters in Helmond, the Netherlands, focuses on customer and sales support. The second location in Nettetal, Germany, focuses on production, scheduling and logistics, exporting quality aquatic feed to more than 60 countries worldwide. The third location in Valkenswaard, the Netherlands, focuses on research and development. The company employs 125 people and in 2015 the company had a turnover of almost EUR 60 million.
“The past 4 years showed an impressive transition of the company: from a commercial business unit of a larger corporate it has been transformed into an independent player with own production and R&D facilities that has doubled its sales volume” said Joost Sars, partner at Nordian Capital. “Rarely we see companies go through such a complicated transition at such as a fast pace as Coppens International has done. Management and Nordian created a robust platform to grow further in the coming years. Coppens International found a good shareholder in Alltech who is more than capable to accelerate the plans in the future.”
“With an average growth rate of 10 percent per annum, this is a truly exciting time to be in the aquaculture sector,” said Anno Galema, managing director of Coppens International. “By joining Coppens International with Alltech, we now capitalize on this growth and bring together the best aquatic nutrition solutions to aquatic producers around the world. “I am delighted Coppens International is now firmly connected to a company at the forefront of science, animal health and nutrition,” continued Galema. “Our future with Alltech now strengthens our ability to deliver aquatic feed nutrition solutions like never before.”
“Coppens International has many qualities we admire in a fish nutrition business: a robust, quality production system, dynamic routes to market and a pioneering spirit for research and development, which, all combined, present us with numerous synergies,” said Dr. Pearse Lyons, founder and president of Alltech. “With a combination of Alltech’s primacy in science and Coppens International’s strong distribution network, we have a winning formula for moving aquatic nutrition forward to greater feed efficiency.
About Nordian Capital Partners:
Nordian Capital is an independent private equity investor and distinguishes itself by providing companies with tailor-made assistance to both increase and accelerate growth. Nordian believes in structural value growth by improving and increasing profitability and helps achieving this as a critical and involved partner. Nordian invests together its management teams based on a clear investment case: a joint plan formulated by the management and shareholders that serves as the guiding principle for the company to grow.
The firm focuses on majority investments in the Dutch mid-market and manages two funds with a capital commitment of over EUR500m. Its funds comprise of a portfolio of 13 companies. For further information, visit www.nordian.nl.
About Coppens International:
Established in 1993, Coppens International is a respected leader in aquatic feed solutions focused on maximising feed efficiency. For almost 24 years, Coppens International has earned a strong reputation for being an innovative, high-quality aquatic feed producer. The company’s specialities include temperate and tropical marine and freshwater diets for a variety of juvenile and adult species. The company also produce top-quality ornamental and bait feeds.
Active in more than 60 countries around the world, the specialist team at Coppens International have expert knowledge to guarantee high-quality, innovative aquatic feed developed for each fish species at all life stages.
The Coppens Research Centre (CRC) provides a practical platform for product development and the provision of innovative solutions to meet the challenges of aquaculture producers worldwide. For further information, visit www.coppens.com.
About Alltech:
Founded in 1980 by Irish entrepreneur and scientist Dr. Pearse Lyons, Alltech improves the health and performance of people, animals and plants through nutrition and scientific innovation, particularly yeast-based technology, nutrigenomics and algae. With nearly 100 manufacturing sites globally, Alltech is the leading producer and processor of yeast and organic trace minerals, and its flagship algae production facility in Kentucky is one of only two of its kind in the world.
The company’s guiding ACE principle seeks to develop solutions that are safe for the Animal, Consumer and the Environment and is actively supported by nearly 5,000 team members worldwide.
Alltech is the only privately-held company among the top five animal health companies in the world. This is a source of competitive advantage, which allows Alltech to adapt quickly to emerging customer needs and to stay focused on advanced innovation and long-term objectives. Headquartered just outside of Lexington, Kentucky, USA, Alltech has a strong presence in all regions of the world. For further information, visit www.alltech.com/news.