BrazilThe dealmakers that advised Bridgepoint’s purchase of Schuberg Philis
Dutch IT company Schuberg Philis has been acquired by Bridgepoint, in a deal that is reported to be worth several hundreds of millions of euros. Meet the M&A consultants that helped close the deal.
Founded in 2003, Schuberg Philis is a provider of managed IT service services for mission-critical applications. The company supports large companies in the Netherlands such as Rabobank, ING, Heineken, Enexis, PostNL, NS, and Port of Rotterdam. Schuberg Philis also supports its clients with expertise in cloud, data, software, and cybersecurity.
With the backing of Bridgepoint, one of Europe’s largest private equity funds and a well-known actor in the professional services landscape, Schuberg Philis plans to fuel an ambitious growth strategy, said co-founder and chief executive Gerwin Schuring.
“Joining forces with Bridgepoint marks a significant milestone in our journey. This partnership will enable us to scale our European operations, invest in new technologies, and continue delivering exceptional service to our customers while staying true to our strong company values and people-first culture.”
Financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed – with a revenue of around €130 million (of which 80% is recurring), reports in M&A media suggest the deal is upwards of €500 million. Putting a cap to the number; Bridgepoint’s fund which acquired Schuberg Philis typically doesn’t close deals above the €1 billion mark.
Beyond Bridgepoint’s majority ownership, existing shareholders from both the founder and management teams have retained retain significant stakes in the business.
“Consistently ranked as one of the strongest IT services brands in the Netherlands, Schuberg Philis stands out as a high-quality, technology-driven business with an exceptional track record in its niche market. We first recognised the unique qualities that set Schuberg Philis apart and have followed their impressive journey closely since,” said Olivier van Riet Paap, partner at Bridgepoint.
However, for long, a sale was never on the table. Despite numerous advances from strategics and financial sponsors, the three founders of Schuberg Philis – Gerwin Schuring. Pim Berger and Philip Dries [the company brand is derived from their names] – pursued an agenda of independent growth and expansion. But when Berger notified the other co-founders he wanted to exit the business for health reasons, they decided to change course and open up to other forms of ownership.
With the backing from Bridgepoint, Schuberg Philis will seek to expand its wings into the Nordic, DACH (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) and UK regions. Growth will be accelerated by “selective deals”, said Schuring, enabling the firm to maintain its “unique culture”.
The dealmakers
Buyer Bridgepoint was advised during the process by Lazard and Axeco (M&A), Bain & Company (commercial), EY (financial, tax, ESG and cyber due diligence) and Crosslake (technology due diligence). Legal support was provided by A&O Shearman (formed through the 2023 merger between Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling).
Schuberg Philis meanwhile was advised by Arma Partners (M&A), McKinsey & Company (commercial), PwC (financial and tax due diligence), and Atlas (tax). Law firm De Brauw provided legal support.
