For a successful buy-and-build strategy, the key is to: 'Work smart, not hard.'

Continuously expanding while also offering quality. It's a great concept, but how can you fully leverage Dealsuite in a successful buy-and-build strategy? We are posing this question to Frank Tijhuis from Nepocon and his investment partner Gijs Marbus from Green Park Investment Partners. 

Through Dealsuite, they discovered Solid Services. Initially, this opportunity wasn't on our wish list, but it eventually provided significant added value to Nepocon's services.

Private equity for those who are not fond of private equity

"He will not interfere with the operations, but it does help that Gijs comes from a technical background," Tijhuis explains, reflecting on one of the reasons why he decided to partner with Green Park.

In 2021, Tijhuis decided to transfer a part of his company to Green Park. It's time to further grow Nepocon, and that is possible with this strategic partner. Marbus explains that Green Park invests solely with a long-term ambition. "We are actively involved in the development and growth of the companies we invest in. As mentioned, we do not interfere with the details of the business but of course, it does help if we understand what a company is all about."

The relationship between Nepocon and Green Park is based on trust and respect for each other's expertise. At Nepocon, this is civil, structural and hydraulic engineering project design and water management. Green Park focuses on investments in small and medium-sized businesses in the Benelux region, with an emphasis on buy-outs, growth, and partnership. Marbus enthusiastically adds, "Sometimes people say we are a private equity firm for those who do not fancy private equity." This is because Green Park invests with their own capital, without a fund structure and without an exit horizon, which was of importance for Nepocon in choosing to partner with Green Park.

"Growth = Work Smart, Not Hard"

Tijhuis's personal motto perfectly aligns with the buy-and-build strategy he has for Nepocon: 'Work smart, not hard.' The idea is to grow through smart acquisitions without making it unnecessarily complex. "Initially, our goal was to establish branches in the western part of the Netherlands. We aim to have multiple smaller offices spread across the region. This way, we are always close to our clients, as well as where our people live and work."

Thanks to this strategy Green Park and Nepocon have grown fivefold in recent years. "We want to keep growing as long as our staff remains enthusiastic," emphasises Tijhuis. "Because without them, the company is nothing." Meanwhile, Marbus continues to carefully examine the opportunities that arise in the market, and Green Park assists Tijhuis in the ongoing development of the organisation. "Dealsuite is a handy tool for spotting opportunities alongside our proactive approach. In fact, I'm not sure if we would have discovered Solid Services without the platform."

We did not see this deal coming

Initially, Nepocon was looking for acquisition targets to expand its coverage, particularly in the western part of the Netherlands. However, through Dealsuite, Marbus and Tijhuis discovered that Solid Services, based in Brabant, was open for acquisition. “When expanding, it's important to look beyond the ‘obvious choices’. Solid Services turned out to be an incredibly good opportunity."

Thanks to the deal with Solid Services, Tijhuis believes Nepocon has been able to broaden and deepen its activities. "Solid Services specialises in damage analysis, maintenance, and management of concrete buildings and structures. This is interesting because such advice also generates work that our engineers can handle. In our field, it is not just about new construction. Especially in this era where sustainability is paramount, preserving civil, architectural, and hydraulic structures becomes increasingly important. We also share the same core values with Solid, so there was a connection right away."

"This was truly a significant step forward, thanks to Dealsuite," adds Marbus. "The company was offered to us by an advisor we were not yet familiar with, and it was located in a region where we hadn't yet established connections. Overall, Dealsuite proves to be a valuable platform for those seeking strategic acquisitions, as it also brings light to smaller potential deals that might have otherwise escaped notice.

Continued Growth, with Quality as the Top Priority

Marbus and Tijhuis are not finished with their buy-and-build strategy. "This is not just about the size of the company; we are primarily seeking high-quality acquisitions because we believe in the power of specialists. Both deepening and expanding our activities are on the agenda."

Among the major engineering firms, Nepocon distinguishes itself very clearly by offering practical and innovative solutions as a specialist. The organisation remains structured in a way that keeps lines of communication short, enabling quick decision-making. Tijhuis eagerly explains future plans: " In addition to expanding, we are internally working on digitalisation, AI and parametric design. Our goal is to standardise processes as much as possible, allowing our employees to focus on truly engaging work. This not only makes the job more fun but also enables us to consistently offer the highest quality to our customers. It's all about working smart, not hard."