designfunktion: Syntra Corporate Finance advises on Ahrend’s minority investment

Wetzlar/Munich/Amsterdam — design­funk­tion, the specia­list for the plan­ning and realiza­tion of modern working envi­ron­ments, is ente­ring into a long-term stra­te­gic part­ner­ship with Royal Ahrend, the Euro­pean market leader for sustainable office furnis­hings. As part of the part­ner­ship, Ahrend will become a mino­rity share­hol­der in design­funk­tion. Syntra Corpo­rate Finance advi­sed design­funk­tion on the transaction. 

The part­ner­ship combi­nes design­funk­ti­on’s strengths in the design of modern living and working envi­ron­ments with Royal Ahren­d’s exper­tise in the deve­lo­p­ment of circu­lar products. The aim of the colla­bo­ra­tion is to create future-proof and inspi­ring working envi­ron­ments, to inte­grate sustaina­bi­lity more stron­gly into new office concepts and to actively shape the German market. In addi­tion to compa­nies, both compa­nies also offer their services to educa­tio­nal estab­lish­ments and public institutions. 

“With Ahrend, we have gained a part­ner who shares our values and supports us in consis­t­ently inte­gra­ting sustaina­bi­lity into the design of office and working envi­ron­ments,” explains Samir Ayoub, Mana­ging Part­ner of designfunktion.

“The colla­bo­ra­tion with design­funk­tion is an important step for us in reali­zing our vision of future-proof working envi­ron­ments in the German market,” adds Rolf Verspuij, CEO of Royal Ahrend.

“We are deligh­ted to have supported design­funk­tion in this important part­ner­ship. Ahren­d’s mino­rity stake in design­funk­tion under­lines the long-term and stra­te­gic nature of this coope­ra­tion,” says Patrick Seip (photo: Syntra), Mana­ging Part­ner at Syntra Corpo­rate Finance. The project team consis­ted of Patrick Seip (Mana­ging Part­ner) and Janick Wagner (Senior Associate). 

About Syntra Corpo­rate Finance

Syntra Corpo­rate Finance is one of the leading inde­pen­dent M&A consul­tancies for the mid-market. The focus is on support­ing complex succes­sion plan­ning as well as company acqui­si­ti­ons and sales in the (lower) mid-market sector, with volu­mes between 20 million and 150 million euros. Syntra also advi­ses medium-sized compa­nies on stra­te­gic capi­tal and finan­cing measu­res and has estab­lished itself as a relia­ble part­ner for private equity inves­tors and family offices in German-spea­king count­ries, inclu­ding the sale of share­hol­dings and the deve­lo­p­ment and imple­men­ta­tion of long-term acqui­si­tion strategies.
Syntra Corpo­rate Finance is part of the part­­ner-mana­­ged Syntra Group, which also includes the M&A boutique Nach­fol­ge­kon­tor, which specia­li­zes in succes­sion plan­ning for smal­ler, predo­mi­nantly owner-mana­­ged compa­nies. — https://syntracf.com/

About design­funk­tion

design­funk­tion, head­quar­te­red in Munich, is a German leader in the plan­ning and realiza­tion of modern working envi­ron­ments. The company combi­nes exper­tise in inte­rior design with a clear focus on sustaina­bi­lity and inspi­ring concepts. With over 350 employees at more than 18 loca­ti­ons, design­funk­tion offers its clients compre­hen­sive consul­ting services for the furnis­hing and finan­cing of offices, home offices, apart­ments and public facilities. 

About Royal Ahrend

Foun­ded in Amster­dam in 1896, Royal Ahrend is an inter­na­tio­nal leader in the office furni­ture indus­try. The priva­tely owned company crea­tes vita­li­zing working envi­ron­ments and high-perfor­­mance system furni­ture that is deli­vered directly to custo­mers worldwide. 

The company’s system furni­ture and room solu­ti­ons are desi­gned to opti­mize the working expe­ri­ence of employees — with a focus on promo­ting health, well-being and produc­ti­vity in the work­place. The products are reco­gni­zed world­wide for their outstan­ding sustaina­bi­lity and time­l­ess Dutch Design signa­ture. The company has sales offices in more than 19 count­ries in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.