Equistone acquires a majority stake in BUKO Infrasupport and BUKO Waakt, leading providers of outsourced traffic and safety management solutions

Funds advised by Equistone Partners Europe (“Equistone”) are acquiring a majority stake in BUKO Infrasupport and BUKO Waakt (“BUKO”), leading providers of outsourced traffic and safety management solutions in the Netherlands. Equistone will partner with the current shareholder Scheybeeck Participaties, the family office of the Burger family, and the wider management team, which will reinvest in the company as part of the transaction. It was important for Scheybeeck Participaties to find a highly experienced partner that can support the company's growth ambitions with strong financial backing and a broad international network. Current CEO Robert Emmerich will continue to lead both companies going forward. The partnership with Equistone will focus primarily on further expanding BUKO’s market presence in the Netherlands as well as targeted expansion into neighbouring countries, supported by strong market dynamics. The financial terms of the transaction are undisclosed and completion remains subject to approval by the relevant competition authorities.

Founded in 1962 in the Netherlands, BUKO consists of three business units: BUKO Infrasupport, BUKO Transport and BUKO Waakt. BUKO Transport is not included in this transaction. BUKO Infrasupport specialises in offering end-to-end outsourced temporary traffic management solutions. With its comprehensive portfolio of services – from design, planning, approval, deployment and collection, as well as onsite management of road signage and safety equipment required for roadworks – Infrasupport primarily serves contractors and public authorities, active in utility-related and urban/rural roadworks. BUKO Waakt provides temporary remote security solutions with a focus on camera surveillance, intrusion detection systems and access control systems, which are used principally on construction sites of residential and public buildings.

The two business units BUKO Infrasupport and BUKO Waakt combine strong expertise with a customer-centric and result-oriented approach, high-quality equipment and dedication to the highest safety standards. This approach ensures prescribed safety measures and regulations for road and construction projects are comprehensively met. With several thousand projects delivered each year and established long-standing and trusted relationships with its customer base, the company is one of the largest providers of tailor-made traffic and safety solutions in the Netherlands. It currently employs more than 350 people and generates an annual turnover of c. €70 million.

The partnership with Equistone is intended to further support the company’s continued growth and development. Above all, the focus will be on capitalising on the strong market dynamics, mostly driven by further investments in digital and energy transition-related infrastructure and road maintenance, and increasing the company's geographic footprint.

“I am very excited by this partnership with Equistone because of their deep sector expertise through investments in relevant portfolio companies, their footprint in relevant regions, and their collaborative and exceptionally strong team. I am looking forward to taking the growth of our company to the next level while maintaining our powerful family culture”, explains Robert Emmerich, CEO of BUKO Infrasupport and BUKO Waakt.

“BUKO is already very well positioned – we want to build on this and further strengthen its service offering and market position in the Netherlands through organic growth,” explains Hubert van Wolfswinkel, Partner at Equistone’s Amsterdam office. “In addition, we will focus on increasing market penetration in specific regions in the Netherlands, and also considering opportunities for expansion into neighbouring countries through strategic acquisitions,” adds Tanja Berg, Investment Director at Equistone.

Hubert van Wolfswinkel, Tanja Berg and Josh Aalbers led the transaction on Equistone’s behalf. Equistone was advised on the transaction by PwC (financial, tax, IT, debt advisory), DC Advisory (M&A), Roland Berger and Munich Strategy (Commercial), Vesper and Clifford Chance (Legal).

BUKO was advised on the transaction by Lincoln International (M&A), Deloitte (financial, tax advisory), Strategy& (Commercial) and De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek (Legal).