Bonn / Munich - 01.12.2011
CargoGuard: Well equipped for continued growth
CargoGuard GmbH, based in Munich, reports the conclusion of an extremely successful financing round with four new investors: BayBG Bayerische Beteiligungsgesllschaft, LBBW venture, FBcon and M-Investar. At the same time virtually all of the old shareholders, including High-Tech Gründerfonds and Bayern Kapital are increasing their shareholdings. Overall, the company founded in 2007 will receive approx. €3.1 m of growth capital that will be used to develop new products, expand the organisation and secure its technological lead.
CargoGuard is a provider of innovative, patented solutions to secure global supply chains. CargoGuard’s keyless and personalised access system makes it possible for the first time in logistics to send transport containers that are sealed and protected from unauthorised access across the supply chain and all interfaces. All sealing and opening transactions are controlled by the central system. Only pre-defined recipients or customs are given access.
“With the web-based security system, the unique security products as well as the comprehensive services and cooperation, CargoGuard is setting entirely new standards in logistics,” according to CargoGuard’s Managing Directors, Jean Blaufuß and Thomas Wilde.
Due to CargoGuard’s unique position, investors are also impressed by the company’s success. In particular, the experts in logistics and logistics systems, Martin Maier (M-Investar) and Jan Fischer (FBcon) firmly believe in the project and are investing in the company via their family offices.
“We are delighted at the outstanding operating results of the company that enabled the growth financing round in the first place,” said Dr. Björn Momsen, Senior Investment Manager and High-Tech Gründerfonds’ person responsible for the investment in CargoGuard. CargoGuard is already delivering its services and products to leading logistics companies such as DHL, UPS and DB Schenker. In addition to other industries, technology companies such as AMD, Infineon Technologies, who securely send highly sensitive and valuable goods, rely on CargoGuard. At the same time CargoGuard is cooperating with notable partners such as Bosch to be able to offer its services to a wider, but select number of customers with lean organisation.
About LBBW Venture Capital GmbH
The Stuttgart-based subsidiary of Landesbank Baden-Württemberg is their “Centre of Competence” for venture capital. It provides venture capital financing for companies primarily in the IT, industrial technologies and life sciences sectors in German-speaking countries. With this service for high-growth companies LBBW Venture complements the extensive corporate customer services of the LBBW Group and is considered one of the leading VC companies in Germany. www.LBBW-Venture.de
About FBcon
Since 2010 FBcon has been involved in a variety of investments in the sectors of mobility and transport, renewable energies, concepts and services, and digital media. FBcon is involved in both early phase investments as well as expansion financing (as a co-investor). The portfolio company is characterised by extremely dedicated and dynamic management teams that create innovative products and concepts. To expand its portfolio, FBcon invests in companies that can open up new market segments and have particularly high growth potential. www.fbcon.com
About BayBG
BayBG is one of the largest equity investors for small and medium-sized companies. It currently holds investments of more than €300 m in approx. 500 companies. With its participating interests and venture capital investments, BayBG enables these small and medium-sized companies to implement plans for innovation and growth, manage shareholder changes or corporate succession, optimise the capital structure, and realise turn-around projects. www.baybg.de
About M-INVESTAR AG
M-Investar AG is a capital partner for small and medium-size companies and acts as the investment holding company for a family office. It finances young, dynamic companies primarily in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. M-INVESTAR AG sees itself as a long-term investor focusing on stable, continuous and sustainable corporate value development. www.m-investar.de
About Bayern Kapital
Bayern Kapital was set up in 1995 as an initiative of the Bavarian state government, aimed in particular at providing venture capital to young, innovative Bavarian companies. To date, Bayern Kapital has invested about €168 m in over 200 innovative, high-tech companies. Bayern Kapital is available as a contact for businesses in the region and currently manages an overall fund volume of about € 215 m. www.bayernkapital.de
About High-Tech Gründerfonds
High-Tech Gruenderfonds invests in young, high potential high-tech start-ups. The seed financing provided is designed to enable start-ups to take an idea through prototyping and to market launch. Typically, High Tech Gruenderfonds invests EUR 500,000 in the seed stage, with the potential for up to a total of EUR 2mm per portfolio company in follow-on financing. Investors in this public/private partnership include the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, the KfW Banking Group, as well as twelve industrial groups of ALTANA, BASF, B. Braun, Robert Bosch, CEWE Color, Daimler, Deutsche Post DHL, Deutsche Telekom, Qiagen, RWE Innogy, Tengelmann and Carl Zeiss. High-Tech Gruenderfonds has about EUR 560.5 million under management in two funds (EUR 272 million EUR HTGF I, EUR 288.5 million HTGF II). www.high-tech-gruenderfonds.de
Contact:
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH
Dr. Björn Momsen
Senior Investment Manager
Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2
53175 Bonn
Tel: +49 228 823001-00
Fax: +49 228 823000-50
info@htgf.de
www.high-tech-gruenderfonds.de
