Change of ownership for leading migration service provider: Serco Group Plc acquires ORS Group

Funds advised by Equistone Partners Europe (“Equistone”) have sold their majority stake in ORS Group (“ORS”), a leading European provider of immigration services in the DACH region and Italy. The company has been acquired by Serco Group Plc (“Serco”), an international governmental service provider. Equistone acquired ORS in July 2013 and helped strengthen its international presence by entering the German and Italian markets.

ORS Group – short for Organisation for Refugee Services – was established in Zurich in 1992 and specialises in offering immigration services with a focus on public customers and governments in Switzerland, Germany, Austria and Italy. The internationally recognised group, which enjoys a leading position in Europe, ensures that refugees receive professional care from their arrival and housing, through the care they receive during their asylum proceedings, to the assistance given to them with their professional and social integration. ORS Group currently has over 2,000 employees. 

Equistone secured a majority stake in ORS in July 2013 and has worked in close collaboration with the management team since then to help the company expand its international presence. For example, the company successfully entered the German and Italian markets in recent years. With its sale to Serco, ORS is joining an experienced international service firm that specialises in providing migration-related services for national governments, in addition to other services.   

Jürg Rötheli, CEO of ORS, states: “Demand from governments for support services in the area of migration has risen consistently in recent years. Thanks to the new partnership with Serco our customers will benefit from an even stronger global network. At the same time, we will also guarantee the same level of service and professionalism that customers have come to expect. Our new partner’s support and expertise will help us to keep developing ORS, while maintaining our commitment to quality services and high standards of care.”  

David Zahnd and Stefan Maser led the transaction on behalf of Equistone. Equistone was advised by KPMG (M&A) and Vischer (Legal & Tax).