Equity buyout at Avery Weigh-Tronix

London — European Capital SA SICAR has invested €123 million in a leveraged buyout of Avery Weigh-Tronix Holdings Ltd, supplier of weighing equipment and support services for industrial and food retail sectors. The company was previously owned by equity firm Berkshire Partners of Boston, Massachusetts.

“European Capital is precisely the investment partner we need to move forward with our growth plans,” commented Gerald Bowe, chief executive officer of Avery Weigh-Tronix, in a 1 Aug announcement.

Avery Weigh-Tronix is one of only a few global players with a leading share in the main UK and US weighing markets and in various niches markets, according to Simon Henderson, MD European Capital.

Avery Weigh-Tronix was formed through US weighing company Weigh-Tronix acquisition of Avery Berkel in 2000. The group employs around 2,600 people worldwide and also operates a network of global dealers and distributors.

The company’s industrial products include weighbridges, platform or deck scales, load cells, weigh bars, indicators and supporting software that serve customers in a variety of end markets, including logistics and transportation, food processing, waste management, agriculture and general manufacturing.

Avery Weigh-Tronix’s food retail offerings include PC-based, analog, checkout and printing scales, slicers and supporting software that are used by major supermarket chains and grocery, convenience and speciality food stores.

Established in 2005, European Capital backs management, employee and private equity buyouts and also provides capital directly to private and mid-sized public companies. The firm claims capital resources of €1.1 billion and has already invested €831 million in 27 companies.