Alantra has advised Eckerle Group on its sale to PRETTL Group

Nov 2019

Sell-side advisory

Frankfurt – Alantra, the independent global mid-market investment banking, asset management and portfolio advisory firm, today announced it has advised Eckerle Group (“Eckerle”), a worldwide leading manufacturing and assembly specialist for electromechanical components for the automotive industry, on its sale to PRETTL Group (“PRETTL”). This complex transaction ensures operational continuity of Eckerle and marks a further success for Alantra’s global automotive practice.

Eckerle, headquartered in Ottersweier, Germany, delivers sub-assemblies for electric motors predominately build into automotive applications such as window regulators, seat actuators, wipers or HVAC components. The Group has more than 3,800 employees and serves worldwide renowned Tier-1 suppliers such as Bosch, Brose, Continental or Valeo. It operates eight manufacturing sites located in Germany, Hungary, Romania, Mexico and China. Its automotive component business is complemented by an industrial automation division in which Eckerle develops semi- and fully-automated production lines for the automotive industry and other manufacturing customers.

PRETTL is an international conglomerate headquartered in Pfullingen, Germany, active in the automotive, electronics, energy and household appliances end-markets. Today, PRETTL generates sales of over €1.4bn and has more than 10,000 employees active at 35 locations in 25 countries worldwide.

“We are pleased to have supported Eckerle in this demanding M&A project and thus could make a contribution to their successful continuation with a strong industrial partner,” said Wolfram Schmerl, Managing Partner at Alantra.

Closing of the transaction is expected for year-end 2019, subject to customary closing conditions including approval by antitrust authorities in various jurisdictions.