“Five partners, one deal”
Door
Rob de Zwart, Berry Oudshoorn en drie compagnons
Datum
5 July, 2022
In het kort
Arpentus facilitated the sale of the Nemesys group to TechOne.
Do you really know what you want?” That was the question often posed to Rob de Zwart, Berry Oudshoorn, and their three partners by Arpentus. They were on the verge of selling their successful IT company, Nemesys, and potential buyers were lining up. But what would be the best deal for them? After careful consideration, all five of them were able to sign with pleasure.
Nemesys was founded in 1990 as a telecom company. When De Zwart joined as a salesperson six years later, it was still the era of faxes, walkie-talkies, and car phones. Oudshoorn came on board as the “financial man” around the year 2000.
Group of companies
In 2002, De Zwart and Oudshoorn, along with two colleagues, took over the company. In the following years, the company grew steadily. Currently, it has over fifty employees on its payroll, and the Oud-Beijerland-based company covers three areas: IT, telecommunications, and cybersecurity. “Within the group, we have several subsidiaries,” state CEO De Zwart and CFO Oudshoorn. “In recent years, we’ve added various startups to the group, which made internal financial administration complex. Therefore, we wanted to become one group with one name and one management.”
Different plans
Initially, the owners looked within the company for successors. When that didn’t work out, the partners looked at each other. What now? One of them wanted to retire and go abroad. Another, Oudshoorn, had his own ideals. “I want to do something for humanity. The suffering of humanity touches me. I’ve always worked hard, but there is more to life,” he says. De Zwart didn’t have grand plans but needed fresh inspiration. Ultimately, the partners decided to sell Nemesys. “We’re all in this together. That’s how we all saw it. That’s why we went to meet with Arpentus.”
Probing questions
In the ensuing process, Arpentus primarily prompted them to think. “Do you really know what you’re setting in motion? Do you want this? What role do you want to fulfill later on? And what if you have to leave Nemesys; what will you do then? Questions like that,” say De Zwart and Oudshoorn. “The crux was: what do you truly want? When you’re selling your company, it’s crucial to know that.”
The starting point for negotiations was clear: selling one hundred percent of the shares, and a straightforward transaction. The search for potential buyers could begin.
“They sat at the table as if Nemesys were their very own business!”
The best buyer
Within two days, the first buyer came forward with a fully developed proposal. It was TechOne, an enterprising investor with a group of companies, including those in the ICT sector. Quickly, one buyer after another followed. De Zwart and Oudshoorn decided, along with Arpentus, to enter discussions with some of the parties. TechOne emerged as the best buyer. “We had assumed that we, as the management, would have to step aside,” says De Zwart. “But TechOne wanted to keep us on board. The way TechOne handles the companies it acquires pleasantly surprised us. We are headed for a future with plenty of choices and challenges.”
Protected from pitfalls
De Zwart and Oudshoorn, who represented all partners in the sales process, had complete trust in Arpentus. “Arpentus wanted to help us, truly help us. That’s why they kept asking: what do you truly want? In that sense, they protected us and saved us from many pitfalls,” De Zwart and Oudshoorn gratefully reflect. “They sat at the table as if Nemesys were their very own business!”
Whistling to work
The composition of the Arpentus team played a significant role. One member brought calm and seniority, another enthusiasm and knowledge of the ICT sector. They all proved to be able to adapt quickly. “It indeed happened quickly,” confirm the partners. “We are pleased with the result. Nemesys is in good hands, and we can shape our future. And I,” De Zwart smiles, “am whistling to work again. TechOne gives me all the space I need to continue building this wonderful company with my team!
