Client Story

Metabo GmbH

Matebowerke GmbH with its headquarters in Nürtingen, Germany is a manufacturer of high-quality power tools for professional users.

 

Increased revenue and a higher operating income: This was the goal for Metabo, a manufacturer of power tools, after its acquisition in 2012 by the investor Chequers Capital. Metabo brought our advisory firm on board to set up a value-enhancement program and accompany its implementation.

Sell-Side Advisory
Portfolio Strategy and Buy & Build
Performance Improvement
Industrials and Automotive
Reading Time 3 Minutes
Key Results
Increasing operating income by 50%
in 2015 in spite of declining prices and adverse currency effects.
Substantial appreciation in value realized
due to being sold by Chequers Capital to Hitachi Koki Group in late 2015.

The challenge

  • Increased revenue and a higher operating income: This was the goal for Metabo, a manufacturer of power tools, after its acquisition in 2012 by the investor Chequers Capital.
  • Metabo brought our advisory firm on board to set up a value-enhancement program and a accompany its implementation.
  • In this process, we played a key role as an intermediary between Metabo´s management board, the investor and the workforce.
  • In addition, we assisted with the supervision of 24 initiatives for rigorous implementation of the growth strategy.
Craftsman holds a safety helmet, while digital technical icons and statistics are in the foreground.

The solution

In the case of crucial initiatives related to complexity management and productivity analysis, we were also involved at the operational level. 

 

In this context, we examined the product portfolio´s cost recovery and margins and analyzed the effects that removing individual products from the portfolio would have. 

 

As a result, Metabo´s product portfolio saw a significant increase in profitability. To ensure that these effects last, we established a portfolio management mechanism.

In spite of declining prices and adverse currency effects, by 2015 Metabo was able to increase its operating income by 50 percent. 

 

Chequers Capital sold Metabo in late 2015 to the Hitachi Koki Group, realizing a substantial appreciation in value.

Ready for tomorrow?Get in touch and see how our team can help you.

What's new?You might also be interested in...

Deal Announcement
June 2026
Fortlane Partners advised Orlando Capital with a Commercial Due Diligence on the acquisition of Trans Europa Express Holding AG (TEX)
Funds managed by Orlando Capital GmbH have acquired Trans Europa Express Holding AG (TEX), a leading independent European provider of rail infrastructure and railway services, from Ufenau IV German Asset Light, SLP, a fund exclusively advised by Ufenau Capital Partners AG.Fortlane Partners advised Orlando Capital with a Commercial Due Diligence on the acquisition of TEX, covering an assessment of the business model, market dynamics, competitive positioning, and the business plan.This project reflects Fortlane Partners' deep sector expertise and extensive experience in Mobility, Transportation, Rail and Infrastructure, providing an in-depth understanding of the European rail services industry.About Trans Europa Express Holding AG (TEX)Headquartered in Freienbach, Switzerland, TEX has established itself over recent years as a market-leading independent European platform for rail infrastructure and railway services. Today, the company operates across Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands, and Belgium, supporting leading infrastructure operators, passenger and freight rail companies, as well as industrial clients with a comprehensive service portfolio spanning the entire rail value chain.A particular focus lies on the continued expansion of the rail infrastructure services segment, where TEX has built a leading market position in signaling and safety systems as well as other specialized rail infrastructure services over many years. The company benefits from long-term structural growth drivers and is ideally positioned to capitalize on these developments through its strong technical expertise, long-standing customer relationships, and existing framework agreements.In addition to the infrastructure segment, TEX’s operating and training business represents another key pillar of the Group. TEX provides cross-border railway operations services as well as unique international training and qualification programs for rail professionals. With one of the largest independent train drivers platforms in the German-speaking region, the company is exceptionally well positioned to benefit from increasing demand for skilled labor and the growing internationalization of European rail transport.About Orlando Capital GmbHOrlando Capital is a private equity firm with over 25 years of experience in the investment business. The company specializes in corporate acquisitions in complex situations and supports mid-market companies in the German-speaking and Nordic regions. With more than 85 completed transactions, Orlando has profound expertise in the strategic and operational development of portfolio companies.About Fortlane PartnersFortlane Partners is a leading European advisory firm specializing in strategy, M&A, and transformation. With an integrated advisory approach, Fortlane Partners combines management consulting and corporate finance expertise to help businesses successfully shape their future.
Insight
Brochure
May 2026
Industrial Tech M&A Snapshot May 2026
The Industrial Tech M&A market in Europe is holding at an elevated level – with financial investors gaining prominence and domestic deals now accounting for the majority of transactions. Robotics valuations expanded to up to 6.0x EV/Sales driven by Physical AI momentum; Industrial Software multiples moderated to 13.5x EV/EBITDA. This snapshot by Oliver Grigat and the Fortlane Partners Industrial Tech M&A team covers key transactions – from KKR/Spectris (€5.6bn) and SoftBank/ABB Robotics (€4.6bn) to structural drivers including AI-driven industrial automation, cobot adoption amid labor shortages, and green automation across the DACH market.
Insight
Study
May 2026
Patterns over Averages
From Averages to Reliable Ranges in Liquidity Planning. Companies often still manage their liquidity based on averages, thereby systematically underestimating the uncertainty in cash flow. However, actual payment behavior often deviates significantly from contractual assumptions and is a key driver of forecasting errors. This whitepaper shows how process mining and AI close this gap: By analyzing real transaction data, reliable payment profiles and forecast ranges are generated instead of static point values. This enables companies to manage their liquidity in a significantly more transparent, precise, and risk-adjusted manner while simultaneously gaining new insights for optimizing their working capital.