Pava Partners advised Danzer Group (“Danzer”) on the sale of its remaining shares in Interholco AG (“Interholco”) to Forset Group AG (“Forset Group”).

Interholco, based in the Republic of Congo, is one of the leading companies in the field of sustainable tropical forestry and operates one of the largest PAFC- and FSC-certified forestry areas on the African continent.

Forset Group, based in Baar, Switzerland, has already been a shareholder in Interholco since 2021 and has now acquired the remaining shares and taken over full ownership. Forset Group’s goal is to become one of the most recognized sustainable tropical forest land managers, with a focus on carbon sequestration through resource-efficient timber harvesting, biomass utilization and reforestation initiatives.

Danzer and Forest Group have been working closely together for several years. Both parties share the conviction that sustainable management of tropical forests is crucial for the preservation of the climate, biodiversity and local livelihoods.

With the sale, Danzer is taking a strategic step and will in the future focus entirely on the further development of its activities in the northern hemisphere.

About Danzer

Danzer is a leading company in the wood industry. With approximately 1,150 employees, the company serves customers from 18 sales offices worldwide. Founded in 1932, Danzer is currently being led in the third generation as a family-oriented enterprise. Danzer produces lumber, veneers, and finished wood products used in furniture, flooring, automobiles, interior design, and other applications.

More information at www.danzer.com.

About Interholco

Interholco is a leading provider of high-quality wood products ‘Made in Africa’ holding a verified environmental and health performance statement (FDES requirement in France). The teams carefully manage the supply chain from forest to customer. Interholco’s story is fully illustrated by enabling the people living in Ngombe to access better life conditions. Interholco makes it possible to design and build a healthy living environment with bio-based, eco-friendly materials, one of the real solutions for the planet and climate.

More information at www.interholco.com.

About Forset Group

Forset Group is awarded the most sustainable forest operating company in the world. The business model meets the highest ESG standards. Forset Group uses low-impact logging methodology in all forest operations while maintaining a local production for optimizing local value. They utilize residual waste (tree cut-off) from the production to make biochar. Forset Group is currently extending their biomass-handling capacity by establishing an innovative full-scale biomass plant that creates additional carbon capture storage and local electricity, producing carbon credits and biochar. Any additional biochar will be utilized as fertilizer for a significant large reforestation project of natural tropical forest, also initiated by Forset Group.

More information at www.forsetgroup.ch.