eps and NÜSSLI are merging

Customers receive the full range of services from a single source: from turf and ground protection systems, through crowd control, stages and grandstands, to temporary stadiums. The new group employs 820 staff across 50 sites and carries out projects around the world. The Group CEO is Andy Böckli, previously CEO of the NÜSSLI Group. Both companies will continue to operate in the market as eps and NÜSSLI, with their headquarters in Munich and Hüttwilen.

Two global market leaders that complement each other The merger brings together two global market leaders: eps, a leader in temporary turf and ground protection systems as well as crowd control, and NÜSSLI, a leader in grandstands, event structures, stadiums and specialised structures. The two companies also complement each other geographically, with a strong market presence in regions that are partly distinct and coverage of different customer segments. eps was founded 30 years ago and specialises in turf and ground protection systems, crowd control and visitor management for events. The owner-managed family business, headquartered in Munich, employs 350 staff across 29 locations and supports around 5,000 events annually, with a focus on Europe, North America, Brazil and Australia. NÜSSLI has been constructing temporary grandstands, stadiums, stages, halls, Expo pavilions, exhibitions and special-purpose structures for 85 years. The Swiss group employs 470 staff across 21 locations and carries out around 1,500 projects annually, with a strong presence in its home market of Switzerland, as well as in Central and Southern Europe and the Americas. Ideal succession plan In 2017, a consortium of investors led by Helvetica Capital invested in the NÜSSLI Group during a challenging period. Helvetica and the entrepreneurial investors brought a combination of operational experience, strategic clarity and patient capital. This has enabled the management team, following the successful restructuring of the business, to lay the foundations for sustainable, profitable growth. It had been clear for some time that, following the successful turnaround and strong growth, the shareholders wished to arrange succession from a position of strength. Helvetica and NÜSSLI’s management have deliberately opted for a strategic owner from within the industry who brings market knowledge and growth capital to the table. As a result, NÜSSLI is transitioning into an owner-managed European family business with a long-term outlook. A single point of contact for all event infrastructure For customers, the broader range of services is the key benefit: those who were previously familiar with only one of the two companies will, in future, be able to access the full range of services offered by both companies from a single source. Added to this is global coverage through the additional market presences of the other company. The combined scale also brings advantages in terms of service availability and response times. The result is a global market leader in temporary event infrastructure, with 820 employees across 50 locations and projects all over the world. The joint client base includes, amongst others, Live Nation, the WEF, AEG Live, the IOC, FKP Scorpio, Formula 1, the ATP Tour, the Ski World Cup, the Ryder Cup, Red Bull, and organisers of international tours, as well as participants in world exhibitions and the world’s most prestigious festivals such as Coachella, Tomorrowland and EDC. “We know from our clients that they prefer to work with a smaller number of suppliers in order to optimise coordination and meet ever-tighter schedules and stricter technical and organisational requirements. That is exactly what we can do from today,” says Tom Bilsen, CEO of eps. “What’s more, we will now also have a presence in markets where previously only one of the two companies was active.” “Both companies are in a strong position, both operationally and financially. That is precisely why the timing is right: we are acting from a position of strength,” says Andy Böckli, Group CEO. “The merger is geared towards growth: additional markets and a broader range of services mean increased expansion, with a corresponding need for investment and staff. The professional and consistent service our customers have come to expect will remain unchanged, but the offering behind it will evolve.” Both companies are celebrating an anniversary this year: eps has been in existence for 30 years, NÜSSLI for 85. Together, that’s 115 years of experience, which will be channelled into joint projects in future.