M&A activity
Market developments
E-mobility perspective
The market for electric vehicle charging points and wallboxes is naturally driven by the rising demand for e-mobility solutions. As a result of the tightening regulatory environment, especially across the EU, combined with growing concerns over environmental pollution, the electrical vehicle (“EV”) market is experiencing rapid growth. This is expected to increase in the upcoming years.
Major electric car manufacturers, such as BMW, Volkswagen and Tesla, are investing heavily to develop more affordable EVs to further drive the growth and acceptance in the market. However, Germany is currently largely behind its targets with less than 250,000 EVs on the road in 2019, partly as result of limited investment incentives for consumers but mostly as result of limited access to charging points across the country.
Charging points: highly fragmented market
The need for a significant improvement of the infrastructure is supported by constant innovations and a strong increase in the efficiency of charging points combined with decreasing prices.
This dynamic market environment and the need for a resilient charging infrastructure offers companies from various end-markets the opportunity to widen business models and revenue streams, e.g. through product innovations or bundling of existing and new services.
Automotive players, especially Tesla and Volkswagen are among the most active market players, developing special offers including EV / wallbox bundle packages or granting a lifetime free access to public superchargers.
Energy suppliers are actively building infrastructures and are bundling (own) wallboxes with their energy contracts. In this context, French EDF Group recently acquired POD Point to become the leading energy company for electric mobility in UK.
Naturally, OEMs such as Schneider Electric and Webasto are developing universal private chargers. In addition, new players in e-mobility markets, such as Heidelberger Druckma-schinen, are expanding their product portfolio with existing know-how.
Smart home solutions providers, such as sonnen group, which was acquired by Shell, offers an intelligent energy storage system and expands its solution towards EV charging.
COVID-19 impact
It is expected that the COVID-19 impact will further delay the German EV targets as OEMs and suppliers have reduced / halted production of vehicles as well as components. Despite the crisis, Tesla remains confident to finalise its plant close to Berlin with production starting in Summer 2021.
Consolidation drivers
Selected market transactions
| Date | Target | Country | Buyer | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb-20 | POD Point Limited | UK | EDF S.A.Legal & General Capital | FR UK |
| Oct-19 | Compleo Charging Solutions GmbH | DE | Fontus Invest GmbH | DE |
| Aug-19 | E-Wald GmbH | DE | Statkraft AS | NO |
| Jul-19 | chargeIT mobility GmbH | DE | Eneco emobility B.V. | NL |
| Jul-91 | Engenie Ltd | UK | Cube Infrastructure Managers S.A. | LU |
| May-19 | Be Power Srl (51% Stake) | IT | Zouk Capital LLP | UK |
| Dec-18 | evpass SA (33% Stake) | CH | AEW Energie AG | CH |
| Jul-18 | EVTronic | FR | EVBox B.V. | NL |
| Jun-18 | ChargeMaster Plc | UK | BP Plc | UK |
| May-18 | Allego B.V. | NL | Meridiam SAS | FR |
According to a recent market study1, strategic investors, with an existing product / service portfolio in the EV market, and European utilities were responsible for over 80% of the EV infrastructure related M&A activity in the last decade. These acquisitions allowed the companies to enter and strengthen their position in the growing EV charging market.
Case study
Clearwater International advises MAGENWIRTH Technologies GmbH on the sale of bebro electronic GmbH and eSystems MTG GmbH to KATEK SE
Clearwater International has advised MAGENWIRTH Technologies GmbH (MAGENWIRTH), a German family holding, on the sale of bebro electronic GmbH (bebro) and eSystems MTG GmbH (eSystems) to KATEK SE (KATEK), a portfolio company of the technology-oriented investment holding PRIMEPULSE SE.
For almost 50 years, bebro has been offering services in the area of electronic and mechatronic assemblies, devices and systems, covering the complete value chain of an EMS service provider. The spectrum ranges from development and prototyping, to the production of medium batch sizes and after-sales services. eSystems develops electric mobility solutions and systems for renowned automobile manufacturers worldwide, such as intelligent charging solutions for electric vehicles as part of Smart Home and Smart Grid. Together, bebro and eSystems generate a turnover of approximately EUR 90m and employ 550 staff.
KATEK is one of the leading electronics service providers (EDMS) in Germany, generating a turnover of more than EUR 350m, with 2,300 employees across locations in Germany and Eastern Europe.
