Colesco supports the buyout of Dunlop Protective Footwear by Gilde Equity Management
Utrecht, 22/10/2024 – Colesco, a sustainability-led direct lender, is pleased to announce that it has provided financing to Dunlop Protective Footwear ("Dunlop"), the global leader in high-performance safety boots for professionals. The investment will support Dunlop in its mission ‘to empower the makers and doers of the world to get the job done safely’.
Dunlop is globally active in over 50 countries and sets the standard for safety, durability and comfort. Its high-performance boots are the safest in the industry since they significantly reduce slip-trip-fall (“STF”) accidents. The company innovates with an unparalleled commitment to safety and sustainability, highlighted by achieving an EcoVadis Gold rating in 2024 for the third consecutive year. Colesco is also pleased that Dunlop closely monitors and actively reduces the ecological footprint of its production process, making the company an industry frontrunner.
The unitranche facility provided by Colesco will be used to refinance Dunlop’s existing financing as well as to support the buyout by Gilde Equity Management (“GEM”). GEM and Colesco are strongly aligned in their desire to support the company to achieve its goals.
Jacco Rolvink, Head of Benelux at Colesco said: “We feel privileged to partner with Dunlop and its shareholders and are looking forward to an exciting partnership in the years to come. We are impressed by Dunlop’s leading products and its commitment to sustainable innovations. This is a rare opportunity to invest in a business that promotes inclusive and sustainable economic growth, productive employment and decent work for all, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 8.”
Gerhard Nordemann, Managing Partner at Gilde Equity Management said: “We are excited to have Colesco onboard as our financing partner, a company that not only understands Dunlop’s business model but also shares its vision and ambitions in the field of ESG. As a frontrunner in sustainability, Dunlop has always strived to set new standards. With Colesco’s commitment to responsible leadership and their strong alignment with our ESG goals, we are confident in this collaboration. Together, we will continue to drive sustainable growth and make a positive impact.”
For further information please contact:
Amy Williams, amy@whitewillowpr.com,+44 (0) 7734671067
About Colesco
Colesco is an innovative direct lender with a mission to unite capital and purpose. It provides senior secured debt (including unitranche loans) and subordinated debt to leading European mid-market companies (between €10m-€100m EBITDA) that seek to achieve their sustainable growth ambitions.
Colesco is backed by Rabobank – a global financial institution with a rich heritage. Colesco combines its long history of credit investing at Rabobank with a differentiated investment approach.
With a clear focus on thematic investing and a wide network in both its home market of the Benelux and across Europe, Colesco is a reliable, long-term partner to companies that want to realize their growth ambitions while offering investors the advantages of a growing private debt market.