DTK Group on a minority sale to Blue Equity

Transaction

DTK Group ApS sold a minority stake to Blue Equity

Sell-side

Undisclosed

Role

Adviser to the shareholders of DTK Group on a minority sale to Blue Equity

Sector

Business Services

Region

Denmark

Clearwater has advised the shareholders of DTK Group, a Danish freight forwarding and logistics provider, on a minority sale to private equity firm Blue Equity.

Headquartered in Padborg, DTK is a Pan-European transport and logistics provider with approximately 120 employees working across six business units, which have unique competencies within road freight forwarding, logistics, warehousing, and temperature-controlled transportation across Europe. The business has eight locations operating as a gateway for the transportation of goods to customers in Europe, with a primary focus on Scandinavia, Italy, Germany, the UK, Benelux, France, Switzerland and Eastern Europe. The company has shown impressive yearly growth rates of 64% since 2016 and generated revenues of c. €60m (c. DKK 450m), with an EBITDA of c. €3.3m (c. DKK 25m) in 2019.

The addition of Blue Equity as a shareholder in DTK Group will add to the continued development in existing business areas, strengthen organisational and digital competencies, increase investment in new business areas and partnerships, and thus accelerate growth.

The closing of the transaction is pending acceptance from the competition authorities.

Through Blue Equity, DTK has found a competent business partner, which shares our values and provides us with a strong foundation for continued profitable expansion. Clearwater advised us through the process and with their informal and competent approach, they made a complicated and intensive process, transparent and instructive. The team has strong experience with sales processes, foresees and evades potential pitfalls and enabled us to present DTK in the best possible way by highlighting synergies and opportunities for the potential investors.
Steen Sørensen, CEO and co-owner, DTK Group

We are continuing to see consolidation in the transport sector, driven by economies of scale, technology and strengthening of the customer value proposition. We see both strategic and private equity driven consolidation in the fragmented freight forwarding market, where private equity can add acquisition know-how and capabilities, which combined with a strong management team provides a solid platform for future growth. We are pleased to have advised the shareholders of DTK Group in finding the right partner who can assist in leveraging the partner model and create further growth for the company.
Lars Rau Jacobsen, Partner, Clearwater