Crossminds assists ESG|The Range in the successful acquisition of a majority stake in The Dutch.

Crossminds supported ESG|The Range in acquiring a majority of the shares in The Dutch golf course. The majority shareholder of ESG|The Range is a member of ‘The Dutch,’ ensuring continuity at the shareholder level. Through one of ESG|The Range’s sister companies, a sustainable development will be implemented on the land located directly next to The Dutch.

This transaction was completed in the fall of 2023. We are only now disclosing this to give the involved parties ample time to inform their relations.

The Dutch

Golf course The Dutch, located in Spijk, is a world-renowned course that offers a challenging and memorable experience for all who play it. With its stunning landscape and expertly designed layout, The Dutch has become one of the top golf destinations in Europe. Golfers of all skill levels can enjoy The Dutch, which offers 18 holes of championship golf against a backdrop of rolling hills, water hazards, and native flora and fauna. The course was designed by renowned Scottish golf architect Colin Montgomerie and has consistently ranked among the best golf courses in Europe since its opening in 2011. In addition to exceptional golf facilities, The Dutch offers a range of amenities designed to provide a luxurious and relaxing experience for all guests. These include a clubhouse with a restaurant and bar, a pro shop, and a state-of-the-art fitness center.

ES-Group

ES-Group (ESG) is a business group comprised of three divisions: Staffing, Tech, and Innovation. Staffing focuses on temporary and permanent employment within the Netherlands and Belgium, specializing in logistics and production work. Tech operates broadly in public infrastructure, with companies working in construction, civil engineering, and (electronic) inspection, maintenance, supervision, and management of objects and monuments. Innovation promotes innovative and sustainable projects and businesses. The group is led by entrepreneur and founder Mark Brands.

Part of the Innovation division is Dutch Sustainable Brands B.V. (DSB). DSB collaborates with local governments and businesses in the Netherlands to take the next step in the energy transition. Its activities include sustainably generating electricity with solar and wind energy, working with recycled materials, and storing energy for later use. By generating, consuming, and storing energy sustainably, DSB completes the circle of the energy transition.

The Lead-Up

The Dutch owns 47 hectares of land south of the current golf course, parallel to the A15 highway. During the construction of a sound barrier, steel slag was used, leading to environmental issues. ESG played a key role in seeking a solution and communicating with local authorities.

In consultation with the municipality of West Betuwe, an area plan was developed for the region surrounding The Dutch, centered on three core themes: sports, recreation, and energy. The sports theme is being addressed through The Dutch; the recreation theme will be elaborated at a later stage.

ESG, through DSB, will address the energy theme by developing a solar park with energy storage.

Mark Brands, as CEO of ESG and a member of The Dutch since its inception, brought together various interests. He expressed willingness to play a role at The Dutch to ensure continuity at the shareholder level.

The Transaction

ESG|The Range acquired shares from various shareholders. Two shareholders remain, with Phil Helsby also continuing as general manager of The Dutch.
Several other shareholders will also remain involved with The Dutch.
By acquiring a majority stake in The Dutch, ESG|The Range can effectively work toward resolving the environmental issues and realizing the solar park.

In addition, The Dutch will continue to invest in the course, facilities, and staff to maintain its exceptionally high standard of quality.

Role of Crossminds

Crossminds supported ESG|The Range in developing the business case, conducting negotiations, securing financing, and performing due diligence.

The transaction was led by Pieter Poortvliet, Levi Lindhout, and Niels IJsselstein from Crossminds.
During the due diligence phase, support was provided by tax advisors Danny Nieuwenhuize, Gijs Kramer, Henk van Assen, and Mariëlle Spuijbroek, along with pension advisor Ramon de Jong from Moore DRV.