AURELIUS Equity Opportunities : acquires dental bauer and Pluradent in a combined transaction to form leading German dental distribution platform

AURELIUS acquires dental bauer and Pluradent in a combined transaction to form leading German dental distribution platform

• AURELIUS agrees to acquire dental bauer from Linneweh family and Pluradent from self-administration
• Combination of the two companies creates leading German dental distribution platform with more than EUR 300m in revenues
• Linneweh family significantly reinvests in new joint platform and will drive growth with support from AURELIUS
• 6th transaction within the AURELIUS co-investment structure

Luxembourg/Munich, June 20, 2022 - AURELIUS announces the simultaneous acquisition of dental bauer and Pluradent, two German dental distribution companies. The deals are conducted in close partnership with the Linneweh family, who very successfully built up dental bauer over the last decades. The Linneweh family reinvests into the newly created market player and stays on board as management team to drive forward, together with AURELIUS, the integration of the two companies and the further development into a leading European dental distribution platform.

The deal will be completed by AURELIUS' co-investment structure comprising the AURELIUS European Opportunities IV Fund and the AURELIUS Equity Opportunities. Expected closing of the transaction is in Q3 2022, subject to approval by the relevant competition and regulatory authorities.

"We are proud to have accomplished the simultaneous acquisition of both companies, which underlines AURELIUS´ ability to deliver on complex transactions. The combination of the deep market experience of the Linneweh family and AURELIUS´ expertise in developing companies create an ideal set-up to jointly build a new European market leader", states Dr. Dirk Markus, Founding Partner of AURELIUS.

Jörg and Jochen G. Linneweh, Managing Directors of dental bauer, commented: "We are absolutely convinced to have found with AURELIUS the right partner for the next step of our development at dental bauer. We are excited about the opportunity to create a leading dental distribution player by joining forces with Pluradent and very warmly welcome all new colleagues".

dental bauer is one of the leading dental depots in the DACH region and the Netherlands. Founded in 1947, the family-run business offers consumable materials, capital equipment and devices, and technical and consulting services to dental practices and laboratories. dental bauer has been growing for many years through a lean and flexible organization, the establishment of new branches and locations, and through smaller and larger acquisitions within the industry.

Pluradent, headquartered in Offenbach am Main, is a well-known German dental distributor, supplying dental facilities with consumable materials, equipment and devices, and technical services. The group also operates subsidiaries in Austria and Poland and an own distribution center in Kassel, Germany. After the company had been facing financial distress during the COVID pandemic, insolvency proceedings were opened recently.

AURELIUS will continue the existing business model of both companies as a dental distributor with a full range of products and all associated service parameters (materials, equipment, and technical service). The combined business will generate more than EUR 300m in revenues in DACH and adjacent markets. From this basis, AURELIUS will develop the group to a leading platform in the European dental distribution market through further buy-and-build activities.

AURELIUS was advised on the transactions by LBBW (M&A), Noerr (Legal), Haver&Mailänder (Legal) Roland Berger (Commercial), OMMAX (Digital), Accuracy (Financial), Oppenhoff (Tax), Intargia (IT), EURO Transaction Solutions (Insurance).