EO Advises Urschel Laboratories on its Strategic Investment in KRONEN GmbH
EO Advisors, LLC (“EO”) is pleased to announce its role as exclusive financial advisor to Urschel Laboratories, Inc. (“Urschel”) in its strategic investment in KRONEN GmbH (“KRONEN”), a leading Germany-based food processing technology manufacturer. This partnership represents a major milestone for both companies and underscores their shared commitment to innovation and excellence in food processing technology.
Urschel, headquartered in Chesterton, Indiana, is a global leader in food cutting technology, with a worldwide network of direct offices and distributors and regional hubs in Europe and Asia. KRONEN GmbH, located in Kehl and Achern, Germany, is recognized as a premier manufacturer of processing technology for salad, vegetable, and fruit applications.
The partnership aims to combine the strengths of both companies to enhance market presence, leverage complementary expertise, expand sales reach, and drive sustainable growth. Importantly, both organizations will remain fully independent. Urschel will continue manufacturing in Chesterton, Indiana, while KRONEN will maintain its operations in Germany.
“Urschel will soon be a minority stakeholder in KRONEN GmbH through a capital investment. Urschel is proud to announce our collaboration with KRONEN. As a 100% employee-owned company, Urschel’s vision aligns with KRONEN’s. Both companies originated as family-run businesses. For Urschel, this is a strategic opportunity to expand and complement our current offerings. KRONEN’s products include conveying, packaging, and small to medium scale cutting machinery. This business venture will strengthen our market share and greatly benefit Urschel customers, specifically in the U.S., Mexico, and parts of Asia. We hope this new venture with KRONEN will yield significant growth for both companies,” stated Alan Major, chief sales officer.
EO Advisors was engaged by Urschel’s executive team to develop and execute a global investment strategy focused on machinery brands that can benefit from Urschel’s international footprint and provide a broader array of food processing solutions—from disinfection and preparation to packaging and cutting. KRONEN’s small to medium-scale cutting systems offer a highly complementary fit. EO Advisors’ expertise in cross-border transactions proved essential in navigating the complexities of this international partnership and achieving a successful outcome.
“The partnership is a milestone in KRONEN’s company history. Announcing such a collaboration is not an everyday occurrence. It strengthens our position and visibility in the market. With the increase in orders and revenue, and with Urschel’s investment in our two production sites in Kehl and Achern, we can accelerate our development. This allows us not only to remain a future-proof employer, but also to expand our production capacities and further enhance the development of new solutions,” says Stephan Zillgith, managing partner of KRONEN GmbH.
This collaboration marks a significant step toward deeper innovation, expanded capabilities, and lasting growth for both Urschel and KRONEN, while preserving the independence and legacy of each brand.
Alongside EO Advisors, Urschel was advised by the mergers and acquisitions team at Lupp + Partner, led by Carsten Hohmann, and the legal team at Barnes & Thornburg LLP, led by partners Michael Fenech and Timothy Emerick.
About EO Advisors
EO Advisors is a boutique investment banking firm specializing in mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, and strategic advisory assignments for middle-market and emerging growth companies.
EO Advisors was established in 2021 to deliver the sophistication and perspective of a full-service investment bank to traditionally underserved clients. Our connected and experienced advisors uncover unique business stories, inform strategic direction, and maximize shareholder value by positioning our clients in a creative and defensible manner, making EO Advisors the trusted partner for discerning owners and entrepreneurs. For more information, please visit: www.eoadv.com.