CHG-MERIDIAN acquires Australian technology financing company equigroup

CHG-MERIDIAN, a non-captive specialist in technology management and financing headquartered in southern Germany, acquired Sydney-based technology financing company equigroup on September 1, 2018. The purchase of the Australian company is a key milestone in CHG-MERIDIAN’s growth strategy and also the largest acquisition in its history. The acquisition will provide strategic growth impulse for the volume of lease originations in the CHG-MERIDIAN Group. As a result of the transaction, the Company will have a presence in a total of 25 countries. For the first time, it will be active not only in Europe, North America, and South America but also in Australia and New Zealand.

Founded in 1990, equigroup provides solutions in the area of information and healthcare technology management. The group, which comprises equigroup Asia Pacific, equigroup UK, and NF Techfleet, operates in seven countries and has around 100 employees. Its 1,500 customers range from international corporations to small and medium-sized enterprises and public-sector organizations. equigroup supports these customers throughout the entire lifecycle of their information and healthcare technology investments. The services and technology portfolios of CHG-MERIDIAN Group and equigroup are therefore a perfect match.

“Through equigroup, we are gaining access to a growing and very attractive economic region. The acquisition will also provide strategic growth stimulus for our medium-term planning target for lease originations of €2 billion,” says Dr. Mathias Wagner, Chairman of the Board of Management of CHG-MERIDIAN.

Many of the CHG-MERIDIAN Group’s German and international customers are also represented in Australia and New Zealand. Moreover, equigroup has a presence in parts of western and northern Europe, so the acquisition will strengthen CHG-MERIDIAN’s market position in the UK, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark.

Integration into the CHG-MERIDIAN Group is also advantageous for equigroup. “As a member of the international CHG-MERIDIAN Group, we will benefit from a global footprint and additional expertise,” says Michael Stilp, CEO of equigroup. By combining activities and strengthening the positioning as a non-captive provider, CHG-MERIDIAN will be able to provide an even better service for customers and improve the addressing of their technology and solution management needs.

The acquisition of equigroup is a strategic milestone that will further strengthen the positive CHG-MERIDIAN business development. At €735 million, the volume of its lease originations up to July 31, 2018 was up by 9 per cent on the prior-year period (to July 31, 2017: €675 million). Pre-tax profit was also 9 percent higher than in the prior-year period. “Based on these encouraging figures, we are optimistic as we enter the final four months of 2018 that we can complete the current financial year with another positive set of results,” says Dr. Mathias Wagner.