Press Release
Private Equity: B+G Schweiz becomes largest Swiss landscaping business
Acquisition of Menétrey makes B+G Schweiz AG largest Swiss garden and landscaping company.
Swiss garden and landscaping group B+G Schweiz AG, held by Patrimonium Private Equity and EGS Beteiligungen, is joining forces with Menétrey group of Vaud Canton to become the largest garden and landscaping company in Switzerland. This follows Egger AG’s joining of B+G Schweiz AG on 1 September.
The acquisition of the two companies is part of the national growth strategy of B+G Schweiz AG, which acquired Bächler + Güttinger in December 2021 and Berger Roman in June 2022.
Menétrey SA, based in Biolay-Orjulaz (VD), is the leading horticultural company in Western Switzerland.Together with Miccotec SA (specialised in gates and barriers) and Be-Green (landscape architecture), Menétrey SA employs over 130 people at its sites in Bioley-Orjulaz and Aigle.
Egger AG is a family business founded in 1949, specialising in a wide range of services in the areas of garden maintenance and garden, pond and, above all, sports field construction. Egger employs over 40 people at its Bellach and Wangen bei Olten sites.
The previous owner and CEO of the Menétrey Group, Alain Kurzen, will take a stake in the parent company and continue to lead Menétrey as CEO. Samuel Kreienbühl, previous owner of Egger AG, will arrange his succession in the course of the merger.
The gardening and landscaping sector in Switzerland is very fragmented, with over 14,000 companies, less than 2% of which have more than 50 employees. The segment is gaining in importance due to the trend towards gardens as oases of well-being as well as new challenges posed by climate change, heavy rainfall and drought events. Attractive landscaping is also becoming a key factor in the acceptance of larger real estate developments.
The acquisitions have strengthened the group’s position in the north-west and west of Switzerland. The growth strategy adopted, with gradual expansion of the geographical reach, is a consequence of the increased need of major customers for a cross-regional presence. The entire group now generates annual sales of around CHF 85 million and employs over 400 people.
The integration will create synergies for the newly formed B+G Switzerland group in purchasing and in specialist areas (gardening, landscaping and sports ground construction) and increased capacity. In addition, the group will be more efficient in large supra-regional projects while maintaining the same level of quality.
Werner Schnorf, Managing Director of Patrimonium Private Equity and Chairman of the Board of Directors of B+G Schweiz AG, says: “The regrouping with Menétrey and Egger is a milestone for the group and Bächler + Güttinger. We are convinced that the newly gained clout and in particular the extended geographical coverage will give us significant competitive advantages. Alain Kurzen, co-owner of B+G Schweiz AG and CEO of Menétrey, as well as Martin Tschopp, long-standing managing director of Egger, will continue to guide the fortunes of the two companies in the future.”
Kurt Hauser, Managing Director and co-owner of B+G Schweiz AG, says: “The combination brings positive effects for all sides. Together with Menétrey and Egger, we will be in an even better position to offer the services that customers demand. At the same time, our employees will benefit. In addition to interesting supra-regional projects, such as in sports field construction, attractive new opportunities will arise, especially in the area of training and further education.”
Alain Kurzen, previous owner and CEO of Menétrey SA, adds: “We are very pleased about the integration with B+G Switzerland. On the one hand, we can offer a broader range of services together, and on the other hand, we can learn a lot from each other through the mutually available know-how and thus further increase quality across all areas”.
The gardening and landscaping activities of B+G Switzerland complement the actively managed portfolio of the Patrimonium Private Equity Fund, which consists of HübnerKTB Oberflächentechnik (plastic products), Octo Actuators (furniture drive systems), Roth Group (building insulation & fire protection) and Netzlink (IT consulting).
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Contacts
Werner Schnorf
Managing Director Private Equity
+4158 787 00 00
privateequity@patrimonium.ch
Christophe Morize
Managing Director Investor Relations
+4158 787 00 88
investor@patrimonium.ch
François Hutter
Media Relations
+4158 787 00 08
media@patrimonium.ch
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Patrimonium Private Equity
Patrimonium Private Equity Fund SCSp is advised by Patrimonium Private Equity Advisors AG, a subsidiary of Patrimonium Asset Management AG (“Patrimonium”), a Swiss, FINMA regulated private markets fund management company that operates across the real estate, private debt, private equity and infrastructure asset classes. The firm is characterized by a direct and responsible investment approach and operates primarily in Switzerland, Germany and neighboring countries. Patrimonium Asset Management AG manages assets in the amount of CHF 4 billion. With offices in Lausanne, Zurich and Zug, the firm employs over 70 people.
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Patrimonium Private Equity Fund Scsp
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EGS Beteiligungen AG
EGS Beteiligungen AG is an investment company of the Ernst Göhner Foundation, and implements its entrepreneurial purpose. It invests with a long-term orientation in profitable, medium-sized and larger private as well as listed Swiss companies. With active influence on the company’s structure, it pursues the goal of developing its investments positively in the long term.
www.ernst-goehner-stiftung.ch/index.php/de/Beteiligungen/Beteiligungen-AG
B+G Schweiz AG
B+G Schweiz AG is a portfolio company of the Patrimonium Private Equity Fund SCSp advised by Patrimonium Private Equity Advisors AG and EGS Beteiligungen AG, a subsidiary of the Ernst Göhner Foundation.
Bächler + Güttinger AG
Bächler + Güttinger AG, based in Kiesen/BE, is one of the largest gardening and landscaping companies in Switzerland. The company focuses on professional consulting, planning and the construction and maintenance of gardens and sports facilities for companies, private individuals and public institutions. Bächler + Güttinger AG employs over 200 people.
With a total of six locations in the cantons of Berne, Fribourg and Valais, Bächler + Güttinger AG, together with its subsidiary Berger Roman AG in Oberbuchsiten, has a strong foothold above all throughout the Central Plateau. Bächler + Güttinger was founded over 100 years ago and is owned by the Patrimonium Private Equity Fund, EGS Beteiligungen AG, CEO Kurt Hauser and the management.
www.baechler-guettinger.ch
Menétrey SA
Menétrey SA is western Switzerland’s leading horticultural company. It looks back on a history of over 60 years (founded in 1959). With more than 180 employees, the company serves the region around Lake Geneva from its two locations in Bioley-Orjulaz (headquarters) and Aigle (branch). Menétrey’s range of services includes garden construction, garden design and garden maintenance and is complemented by the companies BeGreen (consulting and planning) and Miccotec (production of high-quality gates and fences). Menétrey is appreciated for its dynamics, performance and its wide range of products and services and has high quality references from private customers as well as institutional and public clients. Menétrey SA has been part of B+G Schweiz AG since the beginning of September 2022.
https://menetrey-sa.ch/www.baechler-guettinger.ch
Menétrey
Menétrey SA est l’entreprise horticole leader en Suisse romande et peut s’enorgueillir d’une histoire de plus de 60 ans (fondation en 1959). Avec plus de 180 collaborateurs, l’entreprise dessert la région lémanique depuis ses deux sites de Bioley-Orjulaz (siège principal) et d’Aigle (succursale). La gamme de prestations de Menétrey comprend les domaines de l’horticulture, de l’aménagement et de l’entretien des jardins et est complétée par les entreprises BeGreen (conseil et planification) et Miccotec (production de portails et de clôtures haut de gamme). Appréciée pour son dynamisme, sa performance et son offre étendue, Menétrey dispose de références de qualité, tant auprès de clients privés qu’institutionnels et publics. Menétrey SA fait partie de B+G Suisse SA depuis début septembre 2022.
https://menetrey-sa.ch/
Egger SA
Egger AG est une entreprise leader dans la région de Soleure/Olten en matière d’aménagement de jardins, de paysages et de terrains de sport. L’entreprise a été fondée en 1949 et s’est développée jusqu’à aujourd’hui pour devenir un spécialiste performant en matière de conseil, de planification, de construction et d’entretien de jardins, d’aires de jeux, de sites et de terrains de sport. Egger AG offre à ses clients, principalement privés et communaux, un service professionnel complet et peut s’appuyer sur un parc de machines performant.
Depuis les deux sites de Bellach et de Wangen bei Olten, les plus de 40 collaborateurs sont actifs dans les régions voisines du Mittelland, du nord-ouest de la Suisse et de la Suisse centrale. Depuis le 1er septembre 2022, Egger AG fait partie de B+G Suisse SA.
www.eggergarten.ch
Berger Roman SA
Egger AG
Egger AG is a leading company in the Solothurn/Olten area for garden, landscape and sports ground construction. The company was founded in 1949 and has developed into a high-performance specialist for consulting, planning, construction and maintenance of gardens, playgrounds, grounds and sports fields. Egger AG offers its predominantly private and municipal customers a professional all-round service and can draw on a high-performance machine park.
From the two locations in Bellach and Wangen bei Olten, the more than 40 employees are active in the neighboring regions of Mittelland, Northwestern Switzerland and Central Switzerland. Egger AG has been part of B+G Schweiz AG since September 1, 2022.
www.eggergarten.ch
Berger Roman AG
Berger Roman AG, based in Oberbuchsiten/SO, is a well-established and regionally anchored garden and landscape contractor. Mr. Roman Berger founded the company in 1985 and has since built up an efficient team. The focus of the company is on the planning, construction and maintenance of gardens in the private and public segments.
www.gartenbau-berger.ch
