Bolster sells interest in Movares to Innovus Smart Engineering
After more than 17 years as a shareholder, Bolster Investment Partners is selling its interest in Movares to Innovus Smart Engineering. By joining forces, these two companies will create one of the largest independent engineering firms in the Netherlands, with the aim of providing the most innovative and sustainable engineering services with societal impact.
In 2006, Bolster acquired a minority interest in Movares, the prominent consultancy and engineering company that provides smart advice and designs for infrastructure, energy and mobility. Movares is the leading consultancy in everything connected to the rail sector. The company sets great store by innovation: both from a technical and societal point of view, it pursues a forward-looking and innovative policy.
Innovus is a group of engineering consultancies with a proven track record in the world of the built and spatial environment. The group was created through the merger of Zonneveld Ingenieurs, Ingenieursbureau Ulehake, MUG Ingenieursbureau and software developer Future Insight. Convent Capital is the principal shareholder in the group.
The merged companies focus their specialist knowledge on resolving complex societal challenges. Joining forces produces a significant increase in scale, which will further boost the group’s ability to contribute to the major projects that will have to be implemented to make the Netherlands liveable, accessible and sustainable. The transaction has been submitted to the Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) for approval.
Robert Claasen, CEO of Movares: “The merger with Innovus Smart Engineering is a further step in the development of Movares. The knowledge and competences within the group are very complementary, which will put us in an even better position to tackle the major societal issues of sustainability, liveability and accessibility in all their facets. We’re an excellent fit, united by our love of the profession. Further digitalisation will give our professionals the scope to deepen their knowledge and skills, and enable them to really excel.”
Erik van Schie, CFO of Movares: “Bolster has been an important and solid shareholder for Movares over the last 17 years. In that role, Bolster showed itself to be a committed partner that contributes constructive ideas and provides active support where desired. We look back at an enjoyable and successful collaboration!”
Joost Bakhuizen, Managing Partner at Bolster: “We’re proud to have been a shareholder in Movares for 17 years. During our time as shareholder, Movares has further developed its leading position in the railway market and has successfully expanded its operations to associated sectors. We’re sure that in Innovus Smart Engineering, we’ve found the ideal partner for Movares, in order for it to further expand its market position as a leading consultancy and engineering company. We look back at a very enjoyable collaboration with all those involved and wish Movares and Innovus all the best for the future!”
For more information, you can contact:
Bolster Investment Partners
Joost Bakhuizen: +31 (0) 20 226 30 88
About Movares
At Movares, more than 800 consultants and engineers work every day to make the Netherlands liveable, accessible and sustainable. We resolve issues related to rail, infrastructure, mobility and energy. We see innovations and new ways of collaborating as the key to finding solutions. In this way, we are building a future-proof country together with our clients, partners and knowledge institutes. For more information, please go to www.movares.nl.
About Bolster Investment Partners
Bolster Investment Partners is a long-term investor specialized in collaborations with entrepreneur-led and family-owned businesses. These partnerships are based on both minority and majority stakes. Bolster invests in exceptional Dutch companies with a clear focus and a proven business model. Bolster supports entrepreneurs in realizing their company’s full potential, by making a difference as equal partners. Since 1982, Bolster has successfully collaborated as an investment company with more than 100 enterprises.