SGP Corporate Finance Advises on the Sale of Rhodius KMS Division in Weißenburg to Gerard Daniel, a Graycliff Partners Portfolio Company

As part of a highly competitive M&A process, the Knitted Mesh Solutions (KMS) division of insolvent Rhodius GmbH was sold to Gerard Daniel Worldwide, Inc., a portfolio company of US private equity fund Graycliff Partners, and a global provider of wire mesh and filtration solutions.

In July 2023, Rhodius GmbH and other group companies filed for insolvency at the Ansbach Local Court. Together with insolvency administrator Joachim Exner of the law firm Dr. Beck & Partner and his team, operations were stabilized and an investor was secured for one of the group’s three German sites in Weißenburg, specifically for the KMS division. All other sites of the Rhodius Group continue to operate in full under the opened insolvency proceedings, alongside the ongoing investor process.

The parties have agreed not to disclose details of the transaction. Dr. Martin Dunkel, Managing Director of the Rhodius KMS division, will continue to lead the business and looks positively to the future:
“I am pleased that Rhodius KMS, as part of Gerard Daniel Worldwide, will be able to pursue its growth potential even more effectively and further expand the Weißenburg site.”

With this strategic acquisition, Gerard Daniel expands its global presence, increases production capacity, and strengthens its engineering organization. Rhodius KMS is one of Europe’s leading providers of separation products and knitted mesh components, widely used across industries, including the rapidly growing hydrogen sector for fuel cells and electrolyzers.

Our Contribution

The SGP Corporate Finance team acted as exclusive M&A advisor to insolvency administrator Joachim Exner throughout the transaction process. This transaction once again highlights the SGP M&A Advisory Team’s strong expertise in distressed M&A, particularly in highly challenging situations.

Our Team

• Peter Wieland (Managing Director)
• Alexander v. Abercron (Senior Associate)
• Fabian Stützle (Associate)
• Luca Reifenberg (Analyst)
• Caroline Rilling (Analyst)

About Rhodius KMS

Rhodius is a leading provider of filtration products and modules in the areas of Knitted Wire & Separation, Industrial Technology, and Safety Systems. As a growing business segment, Rhodius KMS develops and produces modules and system solutions for clean energy (hydrogen electrolysis) and industrial applications. What began historically with wire products at a single site has evolved into an internationally active group.

About Gerard Daniel Worldwide

With more than 70 years of experience in wire and wire mesh manufacturing, Gerard Daniel’s sales and engineering teams work closely with customers to develop solutions for manufacturing and supply chain challenges. The company serves a wide range of industries, including aerospace, automotive, clean energy, pharmaceuticals, oil, gas, mining, and industrial applications. With extensive resources and multiple sites across Europe, Canada, and the US, Gerard Daniel is well positioned to respond quickly to demanding customer needs.

About Dr. Beck & Partner

Dr. Beck & Partner GbR, based in Bavaria, is one of Germany’s leading insolvency law firms, with 8 insolvency administrators and more than 170 employees across 8 offices. In recent years, the firm has managed numerous high-profile corporate insolvency cases, including group insolvencies with international dimensions. Joachim Exner has extensive experience, particularly in restructuring mid-sized corporate groups such as EISENMANN, Neumayer-Tekfor, Loewe, and BOA BKT. He is a member of the Gravenbruch Circle, an association of Germany’s leading restructuring experts and insolvency administrators.