CVC DIF to acquire leading German aviation ground service equipment lessor HiSERV

HiSERV owns a fleet of more than 5,000 vehicles across 30 European airports. CVC DIF backing will support further growth in the wider European market.

CVC DIF, the infrastructure strategy of leading global private markets manager CVC (via its CIF III fund), has agreed the acquisition of HiSERV, the German market leader in aviation ground service equipment (GSE) leasing from AVECO Holding AG. The investment in HiSERV will be made through CIF III, CVC DIF’s latest Value Add infrastructure fund.

HiSERV engages in GSE leasing and maintenance and repair services through its network of workshops across European airports. It serves a blue chip customer base of independent ground handlers, airlines and airport operators. The company owns and services a fleet of over 5,000 units varying from motorised pushback tractors and belt loaders to non-motorised dollies and baggage carts. HiSERV is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, and serves over 60 customers across more than 30 European airports.

HiSERV will be acquired from AVECO Holding, a German family holding predominantly active in facility services. In 2017, the current CEO of HiSERV Roland Ückert spun HiSERV out of WISAG Aviation Service, a leading multinational ground handler and airport service provider, with a view to establish a superior GSE leasing offering to the broader market.

The company has shown significant growth on the back of strong post-covid aviation sector recovery and a focus on delivering high-quality equipment and services to its customers. Now that HiSERV continues as a stand-alone company backed by CVC DIF, a next phase of growth lies ahead as a pan-European GSE platform.  

“HiSERV has been revolutionising the GSE leasing market since 2017 by delivering premium quality at fair and transparent prices. I am thankful for the support provided by AVECO Holding in building up the company over the years and am very excited about the next chapter of growth with CVC DIF, where we can continue to enable to serve our customers to be competitive in ground handling on a pan-European level. There are significant growth opportunities for HiSERV ahead and we are keen to be supported by CVC DIF in the next phase,” said Roland Ückert, CEO of HiSERV.

Willem Jansonius, Partner and Head of CIF Investments at CVC DIF, commented: “We are impressed by HiSERV’s strong growth and relentless focus on delivering high-quality GSE and services to its customers across Europe. GSE is essential infrastructure for the aviation industry and the further electrification of the fleet will positively contribute to the energy transition of the wider industry. HiSERV is a strong platform to expand market share in the growing GSE leasing market both organically and inorganically and we look forward to working closely with Roland and his team.”

Michael C. Wisser, CEO at AVECO Holding, added: “I am proud of HiSERV’s growth path, driven by a strong team of dedicated people and their unwavering focus on customer excellence. The company is now ready for its next phase of growth to make its high-quality services available throughout the whole of Europe and CVC DIF is the perfect partner to make this happen.”

The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and expected to close in Q3 2024.