Investor Berk Partners and management sell luxury packaging company Aarts Packaging to US listed company TriMas Corporation.

Amsterdam, 2 FEBRUARY 2023 – Investment fund Berk Partners and management have sold all shares of Waalwijk-based Aarts Packaging with effect from 31 January 2023. The buyer is Michigan-based, publicly traded, US-based Trimas Corporation.

Aarts Packaging, founded in 1943, is an innovative manufacturer of plastic packaging, which is sold worldwide in the beauty and luxury markets. With a highly automated and robotised production facility, Aarts produces some 270 million products annually.

US-based Trimas Corporation, listed on NASDAQ, operates globally in consumer, aerospace and industrial products. Trimas’ annual turnover is close to USD 1 billion. Packaging is the largest division in the group, at 60%. Packaging focuses on packaging for beauty & personal care, food & beverage and pharmaceutical products.

Rob Geurtz, managing director, joined Aarts in 2006. In 2019, investment firm Berk Partners joined to support the company’s growth plans and further professionalise the business. Aarts has made great strides since 2019, including an entry into the French market, where Aarts now counts some leading luxury consumer companies among its customers.

Aarts produces high-end caps for cosmetics packaging, among other things. These plastic caps often require a metal or glass look to match the rest of the packaging.

The successful sale to Trimas offers Aarts new growth opportunities. With this acquisition, Trimas strengthens its European position and acquires a high level of automation and robotisation. In addition, through Aarts, Trimas gains an entry into the market where prestigious customers are active.

“The cooperation with Berk Partners has been a conscious choice. Their involvement has enabled us to further internationalise and professionalise the company in recent years. Especially the entry into the French market has been the basis for this successful sale,” said Rob Geurtz.

“Aarts is excited about the fact that we will now become part of the Trimas Corporation. Together with Trimas, we can develop even further and achieve significant synergy in some markets where we are not currently active. Aarts has experienced a very positive development in recent years, both in turnover and results, and with Trimas as the new owner, I expect this growth to continue stronger,” says Geurtz.

“With Aarts we have had a very nice and pleasant cooperation. We have achieved all the growth plans and strategic objectives set at the outset with the company. We foresee nice, further, growth opportunities for Aarts under the Trimas umbrella. This sale is one of the most successful sales Berk Partners has achieved in its 30-year history. We are enormously pleased with this outcome,” said Willem Kamps (Berk Partners).

About Aarts Packaging

For more information: Rob Geurtz (rob.geurtz@aartspackaging.nl) and www.aartspackaging.nl.

About Berk Partners

Berk Partners is an independent investment company founded in 1992. Over the past 30 years, it has invested in dozens of successful medium-sized Dutch companies. Berk Partners originates from Berk Holding, the investment vehicle of Mr Ben Pon, which was founded in the 1970s. After several successful investments made by him, third parties also joined. In the past, Berk Partners invested in, among others, Koninklijke Joh. de Kuyper & Zn. (spirits), (portion) packaging company W. van Oordt & Co, games company Jumbo and Life & Mobility (wheelchair manufacturer).

The current Berk Partners fund is the fifth fund in succession and has fund assets of almost €50 million. Based on past experience, the fund has a preference for investments in the sectors of

  • food industry
  • innovative manufacturing industry
  • healthcare suppliers.

As a committed shareholder, Berk Partners adds value by providing not only capital but also knowledge, a network, entrepreneurship and active support.

Other investee companies are:

  • Theha (Harderwijk, 2018), producer of coconut bread
  • Molenmaker Techniek (Sneek, 2019), hydraulic cylinders; now sold
  • Rivièra Product Decorations (Drachten, 2019) shrink film packaging
  • Technotape (Baarn, 2021), sublimation items
  • HSU Group (Eindhoven, 2021), specialist cleaning of public transport equipment
  • Royal Taste (Soest, 2021), personalised coffee.
  • B.S. Holding (Oss, 2022), raised floors.

For more information:

Berk Partners Groei Fonds B.V.

Willem Kamps (kamps@berkpartners.nl or 020 2619 350).