ABEO acquires Sportsafe UK and increases its stake in New Zealand-based Clip'n Climb

In line with its strategic plan, sports and leisure equipment designer ABEO announces the acquisition of Sportsafe UK, a specialist in sports equipment maintenance. ABEO will acquire an 80% controlling stake alongside the CEO and founder, who will remain in charge of operational management. The acquisition enables ABEO to extend the scope of its UK operations and shore up its services business, a strategic focus for the Group given that services build customer loyalty and result in recurring revenues.

Founded 19 years ago, East London-based Sportsafe UK inspects, services and installs sports and fitness equipment. The company forecasts 2016 revenue of €9million, more than doubling 2014 revenues and earns a solid profitability. Backed by close to 90 employees, the company operates various multi-year repairs and maintenance contracts that generate 60% of its revenues on a recurring basis. Sportsafe UK has a base of over 15,000 customer sites primarily in schools and universities, and practices a dynamic sales approach to penetrate new domestic and international markets.

Jacques Janssen, Group Managing Director, made the following comments: “The UK is the Group's 2^nd and our Sports division's 6^th largest market. Our UK operations primarily serve the gymnastics sector via our Gymnova brand. Acquiring Sportsafe UK therefore gives us a chance to boost growth, both on the UK sports equipment market and in services. Like Janssen-Fritsen in the Netherlands and Adec in Belgium, the company has a very buoyant and successful UK services business that covers equipment inspection and maintenance.”

Meanwhile, ABEO also announces that it is increasing its current equity stake in Clip'n Climb International from 50% to 70%. With its head office in New Zealand and 18 employees, Clip'n Climb develops innovative fun climbing walls. Backed by booming international operations, the company posts annual revenues of €4 million and double-digit EBITDA margins.

Finally, both transactions will boost ABEO's international expansion while ramping up its high-growth strategic businesses (services and sportainment) and improving profit margins, given that both Sportsafe UK and Clip'n Climb post EBITDA margins higher than that of the Group.

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9 February 2017 after market close - Q3 2016/2017 revenue

 

Translation for information purposes only. In case of discrepancy between the French and English versions, the French version shall prevail.

 

Read more at www.abeo-bourse.com

ABOUT ABEO

ABEO is a major player in the sports and leisure (“sportainment”) market. The Group posted turnover of €148 million for the year ended 31 March 2016, 66% of which was generated outside France, and has around 1,000 employees.

ABEO is a designer, manufacturer and distributor of sports and leisure equipment. It also provides assistance in implementing projects to professional customers in the following sectors: specialised sports halls and clubs, leisure centres, education, local authorities, construction professionals, etc.

ABEO has a unique global offering, and operates in a wide variety of market segments, including gymnastics apparatus and landing mats, team sports equipment, physical education, climbing walls, leisure equipment and locker room fittings. The Group has a portfolio of strong brands which partner sports federations and are featured at major sporting events, including the Olympic Games.

ABEO (ISIN code: FR0011950682, ABEO) is listed on Euronext Paris – Compartment C.

 

Contacts

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Source: Actusnews