Alpine Joins Forces with Gimv for Global Growth in Hearing Protection
Deal News | Jun 24, 2025 | Eagle Venture Partners OOO
Gimv has acquired a majority stake in Alpine, an international leader in passive consumer hearing protection, from Vendis Capital along with the company's founders and management team. This strategic move comes as Alpine seeks to capitalise on burgeoning demands in the global hearing protection market driven by rising health awareness and environmental considerations. Established in 1994 and headquartered in the Netherlands, Alpine bolsters a strong global footprint, offering superior quality earplugs and earmuffs designed to meet diverse consumer needs. Recent achievements, such as acquiring B-Corp status, underscore its commitment to ESG principles and sustainable innovation in the hearing protection domain. The alliance with Gimv aligns with the private equity firm’s consumer-centric investment strategy, aiming to fortify Alpine’s market position. The deal underlines Gimv's capacity to invest in mature firms poised for long-term growth, leveraging Alpine's established brand, innovative product range, and expansive operational reach to boost global consumer awareness and lead shifts towards reusable hearing products. Alpine's CEO, Arthur van Keeken, expresses enthusiasm for this partnership, indicating a readiness to accelerate Alpine's growth trajectory. While financial specifics remain undisclosed, the investment aligns with Gimv’s ambition to increase its average investment ticket size, positioning Alpine as a top five portfolio participant for Gimv. The transaction is pending advice from the works council.
Sectors
- Private Equity
- Consumer Goods
- Health and Wellness
- Sustainability and ESG
Geography
- Netherlands – Alpine is headquartered in the Netherlands, and its operations significantly influence the regional consumer markets.
- Global – Alpine operates in over 65 countries, indicating a significant global footprint, pivotal for its growth strategy with Gimv's backing.
- Belgium – Gimv is a leading European investment company headquartered in Belgium, actively enabling this international transaction.
Industry
- Private Equity – This industry concerns financial investments and company acquisition activities, typified by Gimv's stake acquisition in Alpine.
- Consumer Goods – Alpine operates in the consumer goods sector with its hearing protection products, responding to enhanced consumer health awareness and sustainability trends.
- Health and Wellness – The sector is relevant due to Alpine’s focus on hearing protection, essential for consumer health amid increasing global noise levels.
- Sustainability and ESG – Both Alpine's B-Corp status and Gimv's investment philosophy highlight this sector's relevance, as they focus on environmentally sustainable products and practices.
Financials
- – Although specific financial details of the transaction are undisclosed, it involves a significant investment by Gimv, increasing its average ticket size.
Participants
| Name | Role | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine | Target Company | Company | A leading global brand in passive consumer hearing protection headquartered in the Netherlands, offering premium earplugs and earmuffs. |
| Gimv | Bidding Company | Company | A European investment company pursuing consumer-centered growth strategies by investing in promising enterprises like Alpine. |
| Vendis Capital | Selling Company | Company | A private equity fund that owned a majority stake in Alpine, alongside the founders and management. |
| Arthur van Keeken | CEO of Alpine | Person | Responsible for Alpine’s strategic direction and partnership with Gimv for growth acceleration. |