EcoOnline secures new capital from Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division and Summa Equity, to realise further international ambitions.
EcoOnline, a leading European software company helping customers to optimise safe handling of chemicals and ensure occupational safety, will expand further internationally with new financing from Summa Equity and Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division.
EcoOnline is a leading provider of workplace health and safety software which focuses on reducing the negative impact chemicals can have on humans and the environment, enabling its customers to easily comply with complex regulations. In the EU, 53% of workplace deaths are caused by chemical exposure and the majority of companies in Europe are non-compliant with chemical safety regulations. In the UK the number of deaths from workplace chemical exposure is five times higher than that from traffic accidents. A recent study by the Swedish Work Environment Authority found non-compliance to be as high as 81%.
EcoOnline’s services and solutions are aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)#3 on good health and well-being, (SDG)#8 on decent work and economic growth and (SDG)#12 on responsible consumption and production.
Summa Equity and Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division signed an agreement on the 18th February 2020 which secures new capital from Summa Equity’s Fund II and Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division. Summa Equity Fund II and Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division will each acquire a 33% ownership in EcoOnline from selling shareholders, which includes Summa Equity Fund I and Viking Venture. Both will remain shareholders in the company.
“We are thrilled to have the continued engagement and expertise of Summa Equity while adding Goldman Sachs as a key shareholder to provide further support for our sustained growth within existing and new international markets,” EcoOnline CEO, Göran Lindö says, and continues: “In our next wave of growth, we are excited to have a new, strong, responsible and ambitious ownership team, and new capital to help us build on our vision and realise our European leadership ambition within chemical management and occupational safety solutions.”
“We are proud of what we have accomplished in EcoOnline during our 2.5-year ownership. We have focused on future-proofing the company by strengthening the organization, investing in R&D and executing several add-on acquisitions to help EcoOnline expand its Health, Safety, Environment and Quality (HESQ) services and presence in Europe. We are very happy that Summa Equity continues as a majority shareholder. EcoOnline’s purpose and value creation potential, show that returns and sustainability can go hand-in-hand, a central pillar in our investment strategy,” says Christian Melby, Partner at Summa Equity and Board Member of EcoOnline.
“Having backed EcoOnline since 2014 we are thrilled to have Goldman Sachs and Summa Equity Fund II join as investors. The company is now ready to become the clear European leader in HSE software,” says Erik Hagen, Managing Partner of Viking Venture.
“EcoOnline is a pioneer within workplace safety software and is exceptionally well placed to benefit from and drive the trend towards safer and more sustainable workplaces. We look forward to working with the company and other shareholders over the coming years to support the company’s organic and acquisition-based growth,” continues Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division Partner, Michael Bruun.
The transaction remains subject to anti-trust approval. Arma Partners acted as financial advisor to the selling shareholders and Marks Baughan Securities acted as financial advisor to the acquirers on the transaction.
