Portobello acuerda la compra del distribuidor de herramientas JBM

Portobello Capital, a Spanish risk capital firm, has reached an agreement to acquire a majority stake in JBM, a distributor of professional tools and equipment for automotive and workshop industries, according to market sources. The deal is valued between 100 and 120 million euros. Jordi Borrell, the founder and CEO of JBM, will retain his executive positions and continue to lead the company. JBM's ebitda stands at approximately 20 million euros.

The investment will be made through Portobello's fifth venture capital fund, which is about to close. The firm has already made two acquisitions with this fund. Through this vehicle, Portobello recently agreed to purchase a 51% stake in The Babao Suavinex, a company specializing in baby products, valuing the group at around 200 million euros. Additionally, the fund enabled Portobello to acquire Luso, a Portuguese group specializing in vehicle spare parts, a year ago.

The JBM acquisition is still pending approval from Spain's and Portugal's competition authorities. Upon joining forces with Portobello, JBM aims to accelerate its growth in Spain and Europe, both organically and inorganically, through the acquisition of competitors. JBM, based in Girona, has been operating since 1994 and specializes in the import, marketing, and distribution of professional tools and equipment, focusing on automotive and mechanical workshop sectors.

Their catalog includes over 7,000 references covering tools, workshop machinery, specific vehicle repair equipment, lighting, consumables, and industrial maintenance supplies. JBM also maintains an office and warehouse in China, with a facility in Spain covering over 6,000 square meters and serving more than 11,000 customers across 68 countries.