Partial sale of Equistone portfolio company: KWC Group sells its home division to sanitary specialist Paini

Equistone portfolio company KWC Group, a designer and manufacturer of fittings and accessories for kitchens, bathrooms and washrooms, is selling its home division to the Italian sanitary specialist Paini S.p.A. Rubinetterie (“Paini”). The long-standing, collaborative partnership between KWC Home and Paini will now continue under one roof. Details of the transaction are undisclosed.

KWC Group – formerly a division of the Switzerland-headquartered Franke Group operating under the name Franke Water Systems – is a premium manufacturer and system provider for sanitary room equipment, fittings and water management systems. Following the successful sale of KWC’s medical division to the Alumbra Group in January 2024, the Switzerland-based group serves a broad international customer base with its three business divisions KWC Home, KWC Professional and OEM. In addition to private end customers, this also includes (semi-) public infrastructure, such as airports, shopping centres, schools, hotels and sports and leisure facilities, as well as hospitals and nursing and retirement homes. KWC Group currently employs c. 1,000 people across its several international locations and competence centers worldwide, including Switzerland, Germany, the UK, Finland, China and the Middle East.

Funds advised by Equistone Partners Europe acquired a majority stake in KWC Group in April 2021. With the support of Equistone, the group is now selling its high-growth home division. KWC Home is considered the market leader in Switzerland in the production of high-quality bathroom, kitchen and catering fittings for customers from the private sector. In recent years, KWC Group has continuously developed its home business with the support of Equistone. During the group's restructuring following the 2021 acquisition, KWC Home was quickly recognised and positioned as an experienced and innovative sanitary partner. Via targeted investments in the areas of digitalisation and IT, as well as in the product portfolio – including through the introduction of new products – KWC Home has further strengthened its reputation and strong positioning in both its Swiss home market and in Germany.

Together with the new owner, Paini, the growth of KWC Home is now expected to be taken to a new level: “In recent years, as part of the KWC Group and with the support of Equistone, we have succeeded in further strengthening our leading market position in Switzerland, as well as expanding our presence within the German market. We are pleased to be able to continue on this successful path with our new owner and long-term partner, Paini,” explains Urs Tschopp, CEO at KWC Home.

“KWC Home is excellently positioned in the market. With Paini we have found the ideal new partner for KWC Home to continue the growth trajectory that we have initiated and to further develop KWC as a traditional brand in the future”, adds David Zahnd, Partner in Equistone’s Zurich office.

Roman E. Hegglin, Investment Director at Equistone, further explains: “The Equistone funds will now focus on successfully developing KWC Group’s Professional division, which is excellently positioned for further growth.”

The Equistone team includes Stefan Maser, David Zahnd and Roman E. Hegglin. Equistone was advised on the transaction by DC Advisory (M&A), Bär & Karrer (Legal) and KPMG (Financial).