Gilde Equity Management has raised committed financing to support its majority acquisition of Dunlop Protective Footwear

Rothschild & Co’s mid-market Debt Advisory team has advised Gilde Equity Management on a debt-raise to support its acquisition of Dunlop Protective Footwear from EQT.

Gilde Equity Management is an independent private equity firm that invests in mid-sized and large companies that are rooted in the Benelux and have strong international growth aspirations. Founded in 1982, the firm draws on its extensive network and expertise to support companies in realizing their full potential. Gilde Equity Management manages over EUR 2.5 billion in assets.

Dunlop Protective Footwear (“Dunlop”) is the global leader in high-performance safety boots for professionals. As a trusted name in the personal protective equipment industry, Dunlop sets the standard for safety, durability and comfort. With proprietary manufacturing technology and a globally recognized brand, Dunlop delivers premium-quality safety boots that workers rely on every day. Dunlop is globally active in over 50 countries and has production facilities in the Netherlands, Portugal, and the US. Dunlop will continue to build on the strong foundations established over the past years, including its innovation and sustainability leadership in the industry, highlighted by achieving an EcoVadis Gold rating for the third consecutive year, and a strong digital platform.

Maurice Hansté, CEO of Dunlop, commented: “We are very pleased to continue our growth journey together with Gilde Equity Management as new majority shareholder. We are confident that our longstanding relationship with Gilde, coupled with their deep industry expertise, will lead to a successful and productive partnership. Together, we will continue to expand our premium product portfolio and our innovation leadership. We look forward to working closely with Gilde to achieve our shared ambitions and drive future growth.”

Max Kruitwagen, Investment Manager at Gilde Equity Management said: “We are grateful for Rothschild & Co’s support throughout this important transaction for Gilde Equity Management and Dunlop. They provided excellent advice throughout to help us negotiate a strong financing solution and we are delighted to partner with Colesco and ABN AMRO as we continue to support Dunlop with its exciting growth strategy.”

Randal Pringle, Director at Arrowpoint Advisory, highlighted: “We are delighted to have worked with Gilde Equity Management to secure a highly competitive financing package to support their investment in Dunlop. It was a pleasure to work with Colesco and ABN AMRO and we look forward to seeing Dunlop continue to flourish in its partnership with Gilde.”

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