Constellation Cold Logistics S.à.r.l., a portfolio company of Arcus European Infrastructure Fund 2, has completed the acquisition of HSH Cold Stores Limited. As part of the transaction, Anthony Howard, HSH Founder and CEO, will continue as a shareholder in HSH alongside Constellation, according to a press release.
HSH is a family-owned, multi-facility cold storage and transport logistics company headquartered in Grimsby, an important fishing port located in the northeast of the UK. HSH is a strong local leader in the UK cold storage sector, providing essential infrastructure and value-add services to key food supply chain customers in the country.
“This newest acquisition for Constellation demonstrates our continued conviction in the merits of investing in cold chain infrastructure, which has proven significant resilience over the past year. Arcus has a long track record in successfully identifying and developing bespoke platform strategies, supporting the growth of European businesses that provide essential, long-term infrastructure to their customers and ultimately creating value for our investors. We look forward to further applying our platform expertise in supporting Anthony and the team at HSH through the next chapter of growth as part of Constellation,” Ian Harding, Arcus co-managing partner said.
The acquisition of HSH is the fourth investment of AEIF2 for Constellation, following previous investments in Glacio in Norway, Lintelo in the Netherlands, and Stockhabo in Belgium. Like all the previous Constellation investments, HSH was proactively approached as a priority partner for Constellation’s strategy, and the transaction was undertaken on a bilateral basis through an exclusive process between Arcus and the owner-operator. The addition of HSH to the Constellation platform brings diversity and strategic benefits through the establishment of a strong presence in the UK market, where the essential nature of cold chain logistics infrastructure has been highlighted through both the Brexit process and the COVID-19 pandemic.