Houlihan Lokey Advises Stabilus

Houlihan Lokey is pleased to announce that Stabilus (WKN:STAB1L), a leading global supplier of motion control solutions, has acquired De-Sta-Co (DESTACO) from Dover Corporation (NYSE:DOV) for $680 million. This transaction closed on March 31, 2024.

Headquartered in Koblenz, Germany, Stabilus is one of the world’s leading providers of motion control solutions for customers across a broad spectrum of industries, including mobility, health, recreation, furniture, energy, construction, industrial machinery, and automation. With more than eight decades of demonstrated expertise, Stabilus offers reliable and innovative motion control solutions that enable, enhance, and automate opening, closing, lifting, lowering, and adjusting actions. The company’s customised damping and vibration isolation technology protects against shocks, vibrations, and noise. Employing a workforce of more than 6,400 in 19 countries worldwide, the company has its operational headquarters in Koblenz, Germany, and reported revenue of €1.1 billion in fiscal year 2022. Stabilus has a global production network encompassing plants in 14 countries. Additionally, it maintains regional offices and relationships with sales partners in more than 50 countries in Europe, North and South America, and the Asia-Pacific region. Stabilus is listed in the Prime Standard segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and included in the MDAX index.

Headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, DESTACO is one of the world’s leading developers and manufacturers of automation, workholding, and remote handling components and solutions, with a product portfolio that is an excellent complement to Stabilus’ offering in the industrial sector. DESTACO’s core products include clamping systems, gripping systems, and linear positioning systems such as conveyors, rotary positioners, and robotic tooling—an example being gripping systems for robots. As an industrial automation expert, DESTACO serves customers in a wide range of markets and regions. Its products are installed in manufacturing facilities and lines in industries such as consumer products, packaging, aerospace, automotive, life sciences, and nuclear. In 1962, DESTACO became part of Dover Corporation, a diversified global manufacturer and solutions provider. In 2022, DESTACO generated revenues of $213 million and employed around 650 personnel at 13 locations in the US, Europe, India, China, and Thailand.

Houlihan Lokey served as the exclusive financial advisor to Stabilus. This deal highlights the firm’s deep automation, precision motion control, and industrial technology expertise, continued industrial technology sector deal momentum, and ability to successfully originate and execute complex, cross-border carve-out transactions amidst a challenging global macro environment.