Investment in play

Strategic Investments   /  

30.12.2014

Kirk Kapital has purchased 25% of the shares in KOMPAN, the world’s leading manufacturer of outdoor playgrounds and playground equipment, from the previous owner, PFA.

“With Kirk Kapital, we retain our setup with a dedicated, long-term and financially strong shareholder who shares our strategic objectives for KOMPAN. We continuously strive to strengthen KOMPAN’s competitiveness so that we can continue to grow by launching new innovative products, gaining market shares in existing markets and conquering new markets. With Kirk Kapital joining as a shareholder, we are able to continue this work. We would also like to thank PFA, who has been a strong and professional business partner”, says the Chairman and shareholder in KOMPAN, Christian Dyvig.

About the background for the investment, CEO Bjarne Ammitzbøll from Kirk Kapital explains: “KOMPAN is a well-run company with a strong business model and a proven ability to create growth by constantly expanding the concept of intelligent play and learning. KOMPAN is a perfect match for our investment focus and has a huge growth potential. We look forward to helping realise this potential.”

PFA Asset Management’s CEO, Jesper Langmack, makes the following comments on the sale: “We have been very satisfied with the investment in KOMPAN, which is a good, well-managed company. It is therefore important to us that the sale ensures that KOMPAN will maintain a sound shareholder structure. We will continue to invest in companies as a long-term shareholder for the benefit of both the companies and PFA’s pension customers.”

In 2013, KOMPAN had a turnover of approximately DKK 1.3 billion and an operating result (EBITA) of DKK 163 million. Turnover and earnings increased in 2014, when KOMPAN gained market shares in Europe and continued its expansion in Asia and North America.

The Dyvig family remains the majority shareholder with 59%, and the remaining shares are owned by CEO Connie Astrup-Larsen, Supply Chain Manager Jesper Egelykke Jensen and other leading employees.

About Kompan

KOMPAN’s products are sold to child care institutions, schools, public parks, restaurant and retail chains and amusement parks in more than 60 countries. KOMPAN is domiciled in Odense and has sales offices and representatives in 20 countries within Europe, North America, Australia and Asia. The production and logistics centre is located in the Czech Republic, and specialised products are manufactured at plants in Germany and Sweden. The product development centre is located in Denmark. KOMPAN was established in 1970. Today, the Group has approximately 750 employees.

Contact details

Jesper Langmack, Director in PFA Asset Management, +45 3917 6321

Connie Astrup-Larsen, CEO of KOMPAN, +45 6362 1250

Morten Huse Eikrem-Jeppesen, PressConnect for Kirk Kapital, +45 53 85 07 70