Rental keg business Kegstar is set to merge with keg logistics firm MicroStar. Subject to foreign investment approval in Australia and New Zealand, the buyout will see 15 per cent owned by Brambles and 85 per cent by MicroStar shareholders.
MicroStar CEO and president Michael Hranicka will be CEO and Kegstar founder and CEO Christian Barden will be global managing director of Kegstar.
Hranicka said MicroStar had been watching Kegstar closely. “Our cultures, geographies and capabilities are highly complementary allowing us to add strength to strength and open up significant growth opportunities in existing and future markets,” Hranicka said.
Barden said it was “terrific” news for Kegstar, saying it would keep the “best bits of our journey so far”. “It’s testament to the eight-fold growth the team have delivered across ten countries in the last four years, and we’ve only just got started. Becoming part of the MicroStar family with our shared people, quality, innovation and sustainability values, is awesome.
“In this next phase of our growth, we get fresh support, different perspectives and new investment, with Brambles remaining a 15% shareholder,” Barden said.
Kegstar released its IoT enabled tracking system for kegs in November 2020.
