European Pump Services (EPS) B.V., which specializes in the integration and servicing of pump solutions for the industrial, offshore, and maritime sectors, is entering into a strategic partnership with Svanehøj. Hogenhouck M&A advised the owners of EPS on this M&A transaction.
Sustainable Energy Solutions in the Benelux
EPS, founded in 1999, is the official Benelux distributor for Apollo and two ITT brands, Bornemann and Goulds Pumps. With 35 employees and locations in Oud Gastel, Merksem, and Antwerp (Belgium), EPS serves customers in the Benelux and beyond as a turnkey supplier with in-house engineering and project management capabilities. The Benelux region has one of the most extensive and integrated inland waterway networks in Europe, and natural gas remains an important energy source in the region, particularly in the Netherlands, where there are several onshore storage facilities. Significant investments are being made in the Benelux in Power-to-X and Carbon Capture and Storage technologies, and Svanehøj is exploring additional ways to support the green energy transition by offering its industry-leading pump solutions for applications involving CO₂ and ammonia.
Faster service and strategic goals
In recent years, Svanehøj has made strategic investments in establishing global service hubs to ensure fast and efficient delivery of spare parts and proactive problem-solving worldwide. With the acquisition of EPS, Svanehøj will expand its presence in the Benelux region with a new service facility at EPS’s headquarters in Oud-Gastel. EPS also provides a foothold in the tank-to-tank and transshipment market, an emerging sector in which the Benelux plays a crucial role in distribution to the European hinterland. Søren Kringelholt Nielsen, CEO of Svanehøj: “For some time now, we have been exploring opportunities to establish a subsidiary in the Benelux. EPS aligns perfectly with these strategic ambitions to expand our service and after-sales solutions in the Benelux region to better support our customers—both in terms of new sales of Svanehøj pumps and, more importantly, to maintain the installed base we have in the region.” EPS will operate as Svanehøj EPS B.V. with the full product portfolio and service offering. The new branch will enable faster service and support for pumps and systems in the upstream, midstream, and downstream markets. This is Svanehøj’s fourth acquisition in the past four years, and the first since joining ITT Inc. in January 2024.
The M&A process
Hogenhouck M&A advised EPS on this transaction through Hein Stoops, Daan Zonneveld, and Alex Rotering. Hein Stoops on this transaction process: “We worked closely with Coen and his team for a long time to bring this transaction to fruition. What makes this case interesting—but also complex—is that EPS is a true family business, founded and built up by Coen, but in which his brother Joost and son Mats also play a major role in its success. The added value provided by Svanehøj is evident to EPS, and this step makes perfect business sense as well. Together with the deal team and Coen, we spent many hours working on the structure of the deal to ensure that the transition from the family business to Svanehøj is secured as effectively as possible, so that the family can look back on this with satisfaction, even years from now.”
