The merger of eps and NUSSLI creates a Europebased, globally active provider of temporary event infrastructure. Customers receive the full range of services from a single source: from turf and ground protection systems to crowd control, stages, and grandstands, all the way to temporary stadiums. The new group employs 820 people at 50 locations and carries out projects around the world. The Group CEO is Andy Böckli, previously CEO of the NUSSLI Group. Both companies will continue to operate in the market as eps and NUSSLI, with their headquarters in Munich and Hüttwilen.
Two global market leaders that complement each other
The merger brings together two global market leaders: eps, a leader in temporary turf and ground protection systems as well as crowd control, and NUSSLI, a leader in grandstands, event structures, stadiums, and special-purpose structures. The two companies also complement each other geographically through a strong market presence in regions that are, in some cases, distinct, and by serving different customer segments.
eps was founded 30 years ago and specializes in turf and ground protection systems, crowd control, and visitor management for events. The owner-managed family business, headquartered in Munich, employs 350 people at 29 locations and supports approximately 5,000 events annually, with a focus on Europe, North America, Brazil, and Australia.
For 85 years, NUSSLI has been constructing temporary grandstands, stadiums, stages, halls, expo pavilions, exhibitions, and special structures. The Swiss group employs 470 people at 21 locations and carries out approximately 1,500 projects annually, with a strong presence in its home market of Switzerland, as well as in Central and Southern Europe and the Americas.
Ideal Succession Plan
In 2017, an investor consortium led by Helvetica Capital invested in the NUSSLI Group during a special situation. Helvetica and the entrepreneurial investors brought a combination of operational experience, strategic clarity, and patient capital. This has enabled the management team, following the successful restructuring of the business, to lay the foundation for sustainable, profitable growth.
It had been clear for some time that, following the successful turnaround and strong growth, the shareholders wished to arrange succession from a position of strength. Helvetica and NUSSLI’s management deliberately chose a strategic owner from within the industry who brings market knowledge and growth capital to the table. As a result, NUSSLI is transitioning into an owner-managed European family-owned company with a long-term perspective.
A Single Point of Contact for All Event Infrastructure
For customers, the broader range of offerings is what matters most: Those who were previously familiar with only one of the two companies will now have access to the full spectrum of services from both companies — all from a single source. Added to this is global coverage through the other company’s additional market presences. The combined scale also provides advantages in terms of service availability and response times.
The result is a global market leader in temporary event infrastructure with 820 employees at 50 locations and projects around the world. The combined customer base includes, among others, Live Nation, the WEF, AEG Live, the IOC, FKP Scorpio, Formula 1, the ATP Tour, the Ski World Cup, the Ryder Cup, Red Bull, and organizers of international tours, as well as participants in world’s fairs and the world’s most renowned festivals such as Coachella, Tomorrowland, and EDC.
“We know from our clients that they prefer to work with a smaller number of suppliers in order to optimize coordination and meet ever-tighter schedules as well as stricter technical and organizational requirements. Starting today, that’s exactly what we can do,” says Tom Bilsen, CEO of eps. “In addition, we will now also have a presence in markets where previously only one of the two companies was active.”
“Both companies are in a strong operational and financial position. That’s exactly why the timing is right: We’re acting from a position of strength,” says Andy Böckli, Group CEO. “The merger is geared toward growth: Additional markets and a broader range of services mean increased expansion, with a corresponding need for additional investments and employees. The professional and consistent service our customers have come to expect will not change, but the range of services behind it will.”
Both companies are celebrating an anniversary this year: eps has been in business for 30 years, and NUSSLI for 85. Together, that’s 115 years of experience that will be channeled into joint projects in the future.
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