KKR
24.5.2022 14:02:15 CEST | Business Wire | Press release
Bettcher Industries (“Bettcher”), a leading manufacturer of protein processing equipment, today announced the signing of a definitive agreement under which it will acquire Frontmatec (the “Company”) from Axcel. KKR, which acquired Bettcher in December 2021, will invest additional capital from its North American private equity strategy to support the transaction.
Headquartered in Kolding, Denmark, Frontmatec is a global manufacturer of end-to-end automated solutions for pork and beef processing, with world-class robotics and vision system capabilities. The Company serves as a full line supplier of processing equipment, parts and services, instruments, and software, which help solve key issues around food and worker safety.
The transaction represents an important step in Bettcher and KKR’s strategy to build a scaled food processing automation platform serving food processing plants globally. In addition to delivering leading automation capabilities, the purchase of Frontmatec deepens Bettcher’s footprint in Europe. Frontmatec’s executive team led by Allan Kristensen is expected to remain in place to continue to grow the business after the transaction closes.
“Frontmatec has built a leading brand and position by enabling customers to continuously improve the productivity and safety of their workforce. The Company’s capabilities in automation and its global presence make it a superb fit for the Bettcher platform, and we are excited to work with Allan and his team to extend our collective innovation leadership,” said Tim Swanson, CEO of Bettcher.
“We are excited to join forces with Bettcher and believe this strategic transaction will enable Frontmatec to continue expanding our suite of solutions which are helping to meet the accelerating global demand for improved yield in production and food quality. I would like to thank the Axcel team, who have been instrumental in developing Frontmatec into the leading provider it is today, as well as our employees for their tremendous efforts. We are proud of everything we have accomplished and are focused on the exciting opportunity to continue growing our business together with Bettcher and KKR,” said Allan Kristensen, CEO of Frontmatec.
Bettcher will continue to add other world-leading food processing capabilities, while maintaining Frontmatec’s strong culture and values. As part of the transaction, KKR will extend its employee engagement program to all employees at Frontmatec. The strategy’s cornerstone is to allow all employees to take part in the benefits of ownership by granting them the opportunity to participate in any equity return alongside KKR.
“We have great admiration for the Frontmatec team, and view the Company as a highly compelling strategic addition to Bettcher as we pursue our long-term strategy of building a scaled global platform serving customers in the food and food processing industry. We are very excited about the growth that lies ahead, and look forward to continuing to build on the platform from here,” said Dan Daniel, Chairman of Bettcher.
“We are thrilled to welcome Frontmatec and its automated food processing capabilities into the Bettcher and KKR family, and thank Axcel for creating an industry leader in automated protein processing. Importantly, we look forward to incorporating Frontmatec and making all employees owners in the combined business as the latest example of our participation in the shared ownership movement,” said Josh Weisenbeck and Brandon Brahm, Partners in KKR’s Industrials investment team.
The transaction is expected to close during the second half of 2022 subject to customary regulatory approvals. Further terms were not disclosed.
Nordea, Kirkland & Ellis and Moalem Weitemeyer served as advisors to Bettcher and KKR.
About Frontmatec
Headquartered in Kolding, Denmark, Frontmatec is a leader in end-to-end automated solutions for the red meat processing industry. Frontmatec serves more than 1,500 customers worldwide through its global manufacturing and service footprint, with key relationships with many of the largest red meat processors. Frontmatec was formed in 2016 through the consolidation of five automation platforms and employs over 1,300 people today. Visit Frontmatec at: https://www.frontmatec.com/en
About Bettcher Industries
Headquartered in Birmingham, Ohio, Bettcher is a leading developer and manufacturer of innovative equipment in the food processing and medical device industries, majority-owned by KKR. The Bettcher portfolio includes the following: Bettcher, a designer and manufacturer of handheld trimmers, tools, and cutting consumables for all protein applications; Cantrell-Gainco, a manufacturer of processing equipment and yield enhancement and yield tracking systems for various protein operations; ICB Greenline, an aftermarket replacement parts and services company focused on poultry processing; and, Exsurco Medical, a leading-edge medical device company that provides innovative products and services to transform surgical grafting, debridement, and recovery outcomes for patients with burn and trauma wounds. Visit Bettcher at: https://www.bettcher.com/en
About KKR
KKR is a leading global investment firm that offers alternative asset management as well as capital markets and insurance solutions. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and supporting growth in its portfolio companies and communities. KKR sponsors investment funds that invest in private equity, credit and real assets and has strategic partners that manage hedge funds. KKR’s insurance subsidiaries offer retirement, life and reinsurance products under the management of Global Atlantic Financial Group. References to KKR’s investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds and insurance subsidiaries. For additional information about KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE: KKR), please visit KKR’s website at www.kkr.com and on Twitter @KKR_Co.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220524005699/en/
About Business Wire
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
H2SITE Secures New Strategic Investment to Accelerate Industrial Deployment of Hydrogen Production and Separation Solutions25.6.2026 06:00:00 CEST | Press release
H2SITE, a leading industrial company in hydrogen production and separation solutions, has completed a second closing of its Series B round. The transaction brings in EIC Fund with a private investor who will support the company’s next phase of growth and increases H2SITE’s total funding raised in this round to more than €42 million. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260624444396/en/ H2SITE These new partners, join BEV, Suma Capital, Hy24, Crane, Enagás Emprende, Calderion and CRPV who participated in the first closing, further validating the confidence of the European innovation ecosystem in H2SITE’s ability to industrialize and deploy key hydrogen solutions at commercial scale. Over the past years, H2SITE has successfully demonstrated the maturity and scalability of its technology, achieving more than 50,000 operating hours with its membrane reactors and separators, establishing advanced manufacturing capabilit
FPT Expands Strategic Collaboration with Microsoft to Advance AI Frontier Innovation Across Asia25.6.2026 04:00:00 CEST | Press release
FPT Corporation today announced an expanded strategic collaboration with Microsoft aimed at accelerating enterprise AI adoption and co‑innovation across Asia, with a strong focus on ASEAN, Japan, and South Korea. The collaboration brings together Microsoft’s global AI platforms with FPT’s large‑scale delivery and regional market capabilities to support organizations as they move from AI experimentation to real‑world, scalable impact, with measurable business outcomes. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260624200416/en/ Representatives of FPT and Microsoft at the signing ceremony, formalizing an expanded strategic collaboration to advance AI Frontier innovation across Asia The collaboration aligns with FPT’s AI‑First strategy and Microsoft’s vision for human‑agent collaboration, with the goal of enabling enterprises to redesign how work is done across engineering, operations, and business functions. Positioning FP
Murata Expands Product Information Management API Service to Cover All 73 Product Categories25.6.2026 04:00:00 CEST | Press release
Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (TOKYO: 6981) (ISIN: JP3914400001) now covers all 73 product categories in its Product Information Management (PIM) API Service. By using this API service, engineers, developers, and procurement specialists can retrieve up-to-date product information, enabling prompt responses to product status changes and reducing the risk of component obsolescence. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260624146819/en/ [Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.] Murata expands Product Information Management API Service to cover all 73 product categories As digital transformation accelerates in the manufacturing industry, a wide variety of systems and platforms are being used across the entire workflow - from design and component selection through to procurement. Previously, Murata’s PIM API Service covered only surface-mount and leaded ceramic capacitors and inductors. This narrow service coverage required user
Swedish Court Further Reschedules Delivery of Judgment in PriceRunner Vs Google Antitrust Case24.6.2026 20:55:00 CEST | Press release
Klarna provides investor update Klarna Group plc (NYSE: KLAR) wishes to update investors that the Patent and Market Court in Stockholm, Sweden (Patent- och marknadsdomstolen) has again postponed publication of its judgment in the antitrust damages proceedings brought by PriceRunner, a Klarna subsidiary, against Google. The Court has rescheduled publication of its judgment from June 26, 2026 to July 1, 2026 at 13:00 CET. As with the Court's two previous notifications, the rescheduling is a procedural decision by the Court and relates solely to the timing of the judgment delivery. In its notification, the Court cited high workload as the reason for needing additional time to finalize the judgment. No inference about the outcome should be drawn from it. Important Notice The outcome of the proceedings is inherently uncertain. No assurance can be given that PriceRunner will succeed on liability or quantum. Any award would be subject to appeal by Google, to sharing arrangements with former P
Vertex Energy Announces 6,000 bpd Group III Base Oil Expansion Project24.6.2026 16:00:00 CEST | Press release
Vertex Energy, Inc. (“Vertex” or the “Company”) today announced it is advancing a project at its Mobile, Alabama refinery to produce crude-derived conventional Group III base oils through the Company’s existing hydrocracker and related processing infrastructure, providing lubricant manufacturers and blenders with an additional domestic source of high-quality Group III supply. The project is designed to add an incremental 6,000 barrels per day of conventional Group III production capacity and support production of 4 cSt, 6 cSt, and 8 cSt Group III base oils using an existing crude-derived hydrocracked vacuum gas oil stream produced at the Company’s Mobile, Alabama refinery. Combined with the Company’s existing re-refined Group III base oil production, this additional capacity is expected to make Vertex the leading Group III producer in North America. Vertex has completed preliminary design work and has procured a high-pressure lubricants hydrotreating unit. The Company plans to start pr
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom