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Home / Successful water company attracts private equity investment
Successful water company attracts private equity investment
2018-02-15Staff Report 2 Staff Reporter Windhoek-Eos Capital, a Namibian private equity firm, has confirmed that it has acquired the majority of the ordinary share capital of Heat Exchange Products (HEP) and Namibia Aqua Mechanica (NAM). Pending Namibian Competition Commission approval, this acquisition greatly supports the industrialisation drive in boosting the national economy. HEP and NAM are key players in Namibia’s water industry, a sector that forecasts potential growth and through the investment of Eos, this industry is expected to expand considerably in the future. HEP was founded by entrepreneur Henning Mercker in 1998 with NAM acquired as an add-on in 2004. With the implementation of dynamic management principles through the introduction of ISO accreditation, and sourcing a professional energetic team, HEP and NAM, with their headquarters in Windhoek, provided specialised services and products throughout the country and beyond its international borders. HEP is the second largest water treatment company within Namibia and is committed in providing effective water treatment solutions to its clients through specialised non-commoditized chemicals and services. HEP is present in all sectors of the economy and generates it revenues from clients in the food/beverage, fishing, mining, manufacturing and agricultural sectors. NAM is a valve and engine reseller which further complements all these sectors with additional services and products particularly to the nation’s important revenue markets of agricultural and mining. HEP is a key player in bulk water treatment to all industries thereby serving NamWater and various municipalities. At present with a total staff of over 30 and its rapid growth over the past five years, HEP has become aware of the tremendous growth potential in the water industry. There is a great need to expand and diversify ownership to include previously disadvantaged Namibians and hence the formation of a smart partnership with Eos Capital. Through the capital and strategic support from the N$460 million Allegrow Fund, their investment will provide an additional boost to continuous economic growth and deliver superior returns to its investors. Johannes !Gawaxab, executive chairman of Eos Capital, says that partnerships, like with HEP and NAM, can help Namibian businesses operate at much higher levels than previously thought possible. This investment will strengthen the companies, making it possible to expand them and contribute towards job creation and economic development. Furthermore, the change to majority previously disadvantaged Namibian (PDN) shareholding via Eos Capital will help unlock substantial opportunities. According to Ekkehard Friedrich, chief investment officer of Eos Capital, after acquiring the majority stake in HEP and NAM, Eos will ensure overall productivity is continued with the retention of all employees and management. “Our aim is to invest in companies with the potential for rapid growth and to support them in achieving this growth. HEP and NAM are ideally placed to benefit from the growth in the water sector – a strategic sector for the country – and combining the excellent management and our support from a strategy, governance and network perspective, the business will no doubt be a success story for the country and our investors.” Henning Mercker, who will remain as CEO and shareholder of HEP and NAM, is excited about the new venture. “We are delighted to have found a strong partner in Eos Capital with whom we can continue our growth strategy systematically. We are all proudly Namibian, together we can reach our full potential.” The water sector remains crucial in every country and will always have great potential for strategic growth. National projects and upgrading developments have been envisaged for the coming years, and HEP/NAM, as in the past, will be part of this growth in the future. This partnership will result in a truly Namibian-owned company becoming a key role player in the national economy. 2018-02-15Staff Report 2
