• EQT Infrastructure II to acquire the global leader in pooling, management, maintenance and repair of unit load devices for the aviation industry
  
  
• Existing leadership team to remain in place and CHEP Aerospace Solutions to be rebranded to have its own unique identity
  
  
• EQT Infrastructure committed to actively support the development of CHEP Aerospace Solutions through an industrial board of directors including senior leaders with aviation expertise

EQT Infrastructure II (“EQT Infrastructure” or “EQT”) has announced today to acquire CHEP Aerospace Solutions (the “Company”) from Brambles, a global supply-chain logistics provider. CHEP Aerospace Solutions is the global leader in pooling, management, maintenance and repair of unit load devices (ULDs) for the aviation industry.ULDs are containers and pallets used for transportation of cargo and baggage on aircraft and constitute a mission critical part of the aviation infrastructure.

CHEP Aerospace Solutions was established by Brambles in 2011 following the acquisition and integration of four leading ULD solutions companies. Through subsequent acquisitions and Brambles’ pooling expertise, the Company has become the global leader in pooling, management, maintenance and repair of ULDs for the aviation industry. Today, the Company generates around USD 80 million in revenues, owns and manages approximately 100,000 ULDs, and serves more than 90 airlines across an unparalleled network of 48 global services centers and 420 airports, supported by over 550 expert team members. EQT will support the continued development of CHEP Aerospace Solutions and will actively assist the company in capturing new growth opportunities.

The existing CHEP Aerospace leadership team will remain in place and will continue to focus on providing its world class customer service and delivering the very best solutions that create sustainable value for its clients. The Company is headquartered in Switzerland, along with regional operations centers in the United Kingdom, Thailand and the USA, in addition to global services centers in Europe, Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific and the Americas. As part of the transaction, CHEP Aerospace Solutions will eventually be rebranded to have its own unique identity.

CHEP Aerospace Solutions President, Dr. Ludwig Bertsch, said: “We would like to place on record our thanks to the Brambles team whose support and expertise has enabled us to develop the world’s leading ULD management network. We are excited to join EQT Infrastructure, one of the world’s most respected infrastructure funds, which combines the very best people with the industry expertise in infrastructure management that will allow us to continue to grow and provide smarter solutions and unparalleled customer service to the aviation industry.”

Ulrich Köllensperger, Director at EQT Partners and Investment Advisor to EQT Infrastructure, said: “CHEP Aerospace Solutions provides critical infrastructure and services to the aviation industry and fits well with the EQT Infrastructure strategy of investing in medium sized operating infrastructure companies with opportunities for additional growth and development. The Company has a proven business model, an impressive customer base and a promising pipeline of prospective airline clients. The industrial board of directors including senior leaders with aviation expertise will support CHEP Aerospace Solutions in growing its asset base and offer pooling, management, maintenance and repair to more airlines globally.”

Tom Gorman, CEO of Brambles, said: “The launch of CHEP Aerospace Solutions in 2011 was part of Brambles’ strategy of leveraging its asset management and supply chain expertise to deliver value to customers across new industry verticals. Over the past five years, we have built a highly successful global business that now partners many of the world’s leading airlines. We are confident that the future growth of the Aerospace business will be well served under the ownership of EQT Infrastructure which has a dedicated focus on infrastructure and related services, with a proven track record of success. On behalf of everyone at Brambles, I would like to thank the CHEP Aerospace Solutions team for their commitment to becoming the industry-leaders they are today and we wish them every success for the future.”

The transaction is expected to close during November 2016.

Contacts: 

Ulrich Köllensperger, Director at EQT Partners, Investment Advisor to EQT Infrastructure, +41 44 266 6800

Kerstin Danasten, EQT Press Contact, +46 8 506 55 334 

About EQT

EQT is a leading global private equity group with approximately EUR 30 billion in raised capital. EQT Funds have portfolio companies in Europe, Asia and the US with total sales of more than EUR 15 billion and approximately 100,000 employees. EQT works with portfolio companies to achieve sustainable growth, operational excellence and market leadership.

For further information, please visit:www.eqtpartners.com

About CHEP Aerospace Solutions

CHEP Aerospace Solutions owns and manages the world’s largest independent fleet of approximately 100,000 unit load devices (ULDs), for use in the aviation industry, and owns the largest global network for the maintenance and repair of ULDs and galley carts. The company focuses on the outsourced management and associated services for aviation containers, pallets and inflight food service equipment, and serves over 90 airlines through a network of more than 420 airports, 14 regional offices and 48 certified repair stations, supported by more than 550 colleagues.                                                                                         

For further information, please visitwww.chep.com/aerospace 

About Brambles

Brambles Limited (ASX: BXB) is a supply-chain logistics company operating primarily through the CHEP and IFCO brands. Brambles enhances performance for customers by helping them transport goods through their supply chains more efficiently, sustainably and safely. The Group's primary activity is the provision of reusable unit-load equipment such as pallets, crates and containers for shared use by multiple participants throughout the supply chain, under a model known as "pooling". Brambles primarily serves the fast-moving consumer goods (e.g. dry food, grocery, and health and personal care), fresh produce, beverage, retail and general manufacturing industries, counting many of the world's best-known brands among its customers. The Group also operates specialist container logistics businesses serving the automotive, aerospace and oil and gas sectors. Brambles has its headquarters in Sydney, Australia, but operates in more than 60 countries, with its largest operations in North America and Western Europe. Brambles employs more than 14,500 people and owns more than 550 million pallets, crates and containers through a network of more than 850 service centres.

For further information, please visitwww.brambles.com