Tag Archives: Fashion

Nordic Capital becomes owner of Ellos Group once again

Nordic Capital

Nordic Capital becomes owner of Ellos Group once again

June 30 2022

Nordic Capital becomes the new owner of FNG Nordic AB (Ellos Group), the Nordic region’s leading e-commerce group within home and fashion. With a profitable, long-term development and backed by a stable owner, Ellos Group is well positioned in the market to benefit from online growth and demand in the Nordics and elsewhere in Europe.

Ellos Group is on a growth journey with significant investments and progress made on the way to becoming the Nordic region’s leading e-commerce group within home and fashion. After several years of profitable growth, Ellos Group achieved sales of nearly SEK 3.6 billion in 2021. Today, Ellos Group has more than 2 million active and satisfied customers in the Nordics and across Europe.

Based on an ambitious growth strategy, Ellos Group has successfully expanded its well-invested and scalable e-commerce platform. In recent years, the company has expanded its attractive Jotex range of home furnishings into selected markets in Europe. The strategy was recently sharpened with greater focus on creating a more attractive, sustainable and broad-based fashion and home offering to core customers: women in mid-life.

Ellos Group was owned until 2019 by Nordic Capital, which then entered into an agreement to sell Ellos Group to FNG Nordic AB (publ), indirectly owned by the Belgian company FNG NV. Nordic Capital has been an indirect minority owner since the sale and has in the last three years continued to support Ellos Group’s development and progress.

As previously communicated, due to Ellos Group’s former owner filing a petition to commence insolvency proceedings in Belgium, Nordic Capital initiated a process in February 2022 to become the owner of the company. The ownership assessment required for Nordic Capital to regain ownership of Ellos Group has since been approved by the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority.

“The news that Nordic Capital once again becomes Ellos Group’s owner is very positive. We know Nordic Capital well and look forward to working with them as owner. We are starting from a positive position having improved the customer experience, strengthened our operational capability and expanded in Europe in recent years. Our focused efforts have produced results. After several years of profitable growth, our annual sales are around SEK 3.6 billion. We successfully maintained last year’s high sales levels during the first months of this year. We are now looking ahead and are well positioned in the market to benefit from online growth and demand in the Nordics and elsewhere in Europe,” says Hans Ohlsson, CEO of Ellos Group.

“We are, and have always been, impressed by Ellos Group’s strategic position as a Nordic leader in its industry and by the performance of the management team, which has managed to strengthen the company in recent years and expand into strategically important new markets. By becoming owner, Nordic Capital commits, once again, to support the continued growth and success of Ellos Group,” says Robert Furuhjelm, Chairman of FNG Nordic and Partner, Nordic Capital Advisors.

As the new owner of the company, Nordic Capital will actively support Ellos Group in the forthcoming expansion phase. Focus is on continuing to grow the business in the Nordic home market and in selected markets in Europe.

As previously communicated, the existing financing remains in place. FNG Nordic’s bondholders previously approved a change to the terms of FNG Nordic’s bond loan, which rendered the transfer of ownership possible.

In conjunction with the change of ownership, FNG Nordic will change its name.

For more information:
Johan Stigson, CFO, Telephone. +46 (0)33 16 08 05

About Ellos Group 

The Ellos Group, which includes Ellos, Jotex, Stayhard, and Homeroom, is the Nordic region’s leading e-commerce group. Working closely with our millions of customers, we are constantly striving to develop and offer attractive and sustainable fashion and household items for the entire family. Our focus is always on the customer. We continuously work to develop our business through innovation, creativity, and sustainability. The Ellos Group, headquartered in Borås, and with operations in all Nordic countries and selected European markets, has around 600 employees and sales of around SEK 3.6 billion. www.ellosgroup.com

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ACE Education acquires French fashion business school EIDM

Oakley
  • Adds to ACE’s sports management, luxury hospitality management, arts and design verticals
  • Takes ACE to 30+ campuses and 5,000+ students in France and abroad
  • Next step in ACE and Oakley’s buy-and-build strategy

Oakley Capital (‘Oakley’), the pan-European private equity investor, is pleased to announce that portfolio company ACE Education Group (‘ACE’) has acquired EIDM, one of France’s leading Fashion Business & Styling schools.

Based in Paris, the fashion capital of the world, EIDM offers students a range of specialised programmes from Bachelor’s to Master’s, as well as recognised professional diplomas. The school enjoys strong growth, having quadrupled student enrolments over the last three years. EIDM’s unique network of partners and relationships across the industry enables students to pursue successful careers at home and internationally. Today, 85%(1) of EIDM students go on to secure a job in the industry after graduating, and EIDM alumni have worked at premier fashion houses including Jean Paul Gaultier, Versace and Dolce & Gabbana.

ACE is a diversified higher education group with over 30 campuses in France and abroad and over 5,000 students. The business operates under four brands: AMOS, the leading French sports management business school; ESBS, a sports management school based in Valencia, Spain; ESDAC, a leading French design school group; and CMH, a heritage international luxury hospitality & tourism school.

Oakley reinvested in the business in 2021 alongside Groupe Amaury and ACE’s founder Patrick Touati to benefit from the business’ strong future growth potential, from a rich pipeline of M&A opportunities, as well as from the significant strategic and commercial benefits Amaury can bring as a prominent stakeholder in the French sports industry.

The acquisition of EIDM will enable ACE to further diversify its business and train students in the business of Fashion and Luxury, a major industry in Europe with strong, long-term growth prospects.

ACE Education Group CEO Sylvestre Louis, said: “We are delighted to welcome EIDM to the ACE Education Group. There are many synergies with the other schools in the Group, particularly with our design school, ESDAC. It is also a real opportunity to support the growth of EIDM, which has increased its student population fourfold since 2018.”

Oakley Capital Founder and Managing Partner Peter Dubens said: “We’re pleased to see ACE deliver on its buy-and-build strategy as we further diversify and grow the business to become one of Europe’s leading higher education platforms. We continue to see strong demand for specialised higher education programmes, which ACE provides across its schools and campuses. Luxury & Fashion is an exciting vertical to add and neatly complements its existing specialisations such as arts & design.”

(1) In-house survey from 2018 to 2021

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Pixelz’ management team partners with Adelis in growth buyout

Adelis Equity

In partnership with management, Adelis Equity Partners (“Adelis”) is aquiring Pixelz ApS (“Pixelz”) to further support the company’s evolution and growth journey. Current management-owners will continue in their roles and retain significant ownership going forward.

Pixelz is a leader in the image editing and retouching for the fashion industry and with its AI-powered visuals platform, Pixelz assists global brand owners, online retailers, and photo studios to optimize their online visuals, enabling a better online shopping experience which leads to increased online conversion success.

Pixelz was founded in 2011 and has pioneered a hybrid business model by combining automation and a strong operational culture in its delivery centers, together allowing Pixelz to create a unique and highly attractive position in the market for fashion image editing and retouching.

“Pixelz was seeking a partner to help accelerate its international growth and to support the continued development of its business model,” says Thomas Ladefoged, CEO of Pixelz.

”Pixelz has developed a leading platform and service offering within its niche, and we were impressed by the company’s management team and what they have been able to accomplish. We see exciting potential for both the continued roll-out of their current product offering as well as expansion of Pixelz’ business to include other visuals beyond images in the future,” says Joel Russ at Adelis.

Adelis will become majority owner in Pixelz, while management will continue to own a significant share of the company. Together, the parties expect to continue investing in an ambitious growth plan.

For further information:

Joel Russ, Adelis Equity Partners, +46 73 543 30 68, joel.russ@adelisequity.com

Martin Welna, Adelis Equity Partners, +45 21 99 67 57, martin.welna@adelisequity.com

Thomas Ladefoged, CEO, Pixelz, +45 20 26 50 22, tl@pixelz.com

About Pixelz ApS

Pixelz is a leading provider of postproduction image editing and retouching services, their customers are predominantly global brand owners, online retailers, and photo studios and mainly within the fashion industry. Headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, Pixelz operates internationally with offices in the US, Germany, Spain, Netherlands, and production in Vietnam as well as an outsourcing center in Bangladesh. For more information, please visit pixelz.com.

About Adelis Equity Partners

Adelis is a growth partner for well-positioned, Nordic companies. Adelis partners with management and/or owners to build businesses in growth segments and with strong market positions. Since raising its first fund in 2013, Adelis has been one of the most active investors in the Nordic middle-market, making 29 platform investments and more than 120 add-on acquisitions. Adelis today manages approximately €2 billion in capital. For more information, please visit www.adelisequity.com.

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SPANX, Inc. and Blackstone Close Majority Sale, Secure New Investors Including Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon and Whitney Wolfe Herd

ATLANTA & NEW YORK – November 18, 2021 – SPANX, Inc., the mission-driven womenswear brand founded by Sara Blakely in 2000, today announced that funds managed by Blackstone (“Blackstone”), a leading global investment firm, have completed their previously announced majority investment in the business at a valuation of $1.2 billion. Additional new investors in SPANX participating in the closing include iconic female entrepreneurs Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon and Whitney Wolfe Herd, as well as female-founded investment funds G9 Ventures, founded by Amy Griffin, and Able Partners.

SPANX was founded by Blakely 21 years ago when she took $5,000 in savings and set out to take on the male-dominated shapewear and undergarment industry. Blakely, who had never taken a business class in her life and was selling fax machines door to door at the time, wrote her own patent and invented the first SPANX undergarment in her apartment. Without ever taking any outside investment, she went on to turn SPANX into a global powerhouse that has changed the lives of women all over the world. Blakely has been named one of TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the world and was featured on the cover of Forbes magazine as the youngest self-made female billionaire. Through her personal foundation, Blakely has given millions of dollars to help elevate other women and in 2013 she signed the Giving Pledge, promising to donate half her wealth to philanthropy.

“I’m thrilled to welcome Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Whitney Wolfe Herd, G9 Ventures and Able Partners as investors of SPANX! This is an incredible, ‘pinch-me!’ full-circle moment because both Oprah and Reese have been longtime supporters of SPANX, and Whitney has been a gamechanger for women in business. Oprah was a big reason for SPANX’s early success when she named it one of her iconic ‘Favorite Things’ in 2000,” said Blakely, who now serves as Executive Chairwoman of SPANX. “To have the support of these smart, thoughtful, world-class female-founders who have also disrupted their industries to elevate and support women means everything. As we like to say at SPANX, ‘we’ve got your butt covered!’ With these new partnerships, that promise is as true as ever. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the brand — and most importantly — for our customers.”

Oprah Winfrey said: “When Sara first came on The Oprah Show to tell us about her idea for SPANX, I knew it was brilliant. We’d all been cutting off our panty hose for years! So from the moment I wore my first pair, they became a staple in my wardrobe. It’s remarkable the business that Sara and her team have created, with the comfort and support of all women at the heart of their creations, and I’m happy to be part of the evolution.”

Reese Witherspoon, Founder of Hello Sunshine, said: “As a self-made founder who has built an absolute powerhouse of a brand, Sara is an inspiration to female entrepreneurs everywhere. In addition to developing a remarkable product and business that literally supports women every day, Sara has become a role model for leveraging your success to elevate other women. I’m so proud of Sara and the entire SPANX team, and I cannot wait to see what the future has in store for this incredible company.”

Ann Chung, Global Head of Consumer for Blackstone Growth (BXG), said: “Since creating the shapewear category more than two decades ago, Sara has built the company into a leading apparel brand and online force – and they’re just getting started. We’re so excited to partner with their team and this iconic group of co-investors to further accelerate the business’ growth through new product innovation, geographic expansion and continued digital transformation.”

As previously announced, Blackstone and SPANX intend to create an all-female SPANX board of directors, and Blackstone’s investment team for the transaction was all women. Blakely will continue to maintain a significant equity stake. Blakely, along with SPANX’s existing senior management team, will also continue to oversee daily operations.

Blackstone’s investment in SPANX, made through its Blackstone Growth (BXG) and Tactical Opportunities businesses, is the most recent example of a number of innovative female-founded companies the firm is proud to back. This includes in just the last two years Bumble, the online dating app where women make the first move founded by Whitney Wolfe Herd; Hello Sunshine, the mission-driven media company that puts women at the center of every story it creates, founded by Reese Witherspoon; Hotwire Communications, a leading provider of cutting-edge fiber-based telecommunication services co-founded by its CEO Kristin Johnson; GeoComply, a global leader in geolocation compliance technology, co-founded by its Chairman Anna Sainsbury; and Medable, a leading cloud platform for patient-centered clinical research, co-founded by Dr. Michelle Longmire. This is in addition to female-led technology businesses in which Blackstone has invested such as Ancestry.com, Articulate and Ellucian.

SPANX was represented by Goldman & Sachs and Allen & Co. in the transaction, with legal representation from Cravath, Swaine and Moore. King & Spalding served as Blakely’s legal advisor. Blackstone’s financial advisor for the transaction was JPMorgan and legal advisor was Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP.

ABOUT SPANX, INC.

Founded by Sara Blakely in 2000, SPANX, Inc. is a dynamic women’s brand that has revolutionized an industry and changed the way women around the world get dressed. The mission of the brand is to make things better and more comfortable for women. Through tremendous consumer demand, the company has expanded into offering both innerwear solutions and figure-flattering outerwear, activewear and swimwear. SPANX is constantly identifying and solving problems from a women’s point of view. With smarter, more comfortable must-haves including leggings, denim, the Perfect Pants collection, activewear, intimates and innovative shapewear, SPANX elevates women through product and empowers them to look and feel their best. Further information is available at www.spanx.com. Follow SPANX on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @SPANX.

ABOUT BLACKSTONE

Blackstone is the world’s largest alternative asset manager. We seek to create positive economic impact and long-term value for our investors, the companies we invest in, and the communities in which we work. We do this by using extraordinary people and flexible capital to help companies solve problems. Our $731 billion in assets under management include investment vehicles focused on private equity, real estate, public debt and equity, life sciences, growth equity, opportunistic, non-investment grade credit, real assets and secondary funds, all on a global basis. Further information is available at www.blackstone.com. Follow Blackstone on Twitter @Blackstone.

MEDIA CONTACTS

SPANX:
Lauren Hauther
(470) 868-8492
LHauther@spanx.com

Blackstone:
Matt Anderson
(518) 248-7310
Matthew.anderson@blackstone.com

OR

Mariel Seidman-Gati
(917) 698-1674
Mariel.seidmangati@blackstone.com

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Mr Marvis takes the next step with Capital A

Capital-A

The Amsterdam based menswear brand Mr Marvis set-up a partnership with Capital A Investment Partners

The Amsterdam based direct-to-consumer menswear brand, known for its range of colourful men’s shorts and trousers, set-up a partnership with Capital A Investment Partners to accelerate its growth.

Mr Marvis already has seen strong growth in recent years following several successful product introductions. Mr Marvis also saw an increasing appreciation of its slow fashion concept in its home market, The Netherlands, as well as abroad.

“Both the MR MARVIS brand and our products are valued by our customers because of the focus on quality and consistency. Above that, our collection only expands, resulting in customers coming back for the same product as well as for newly launched products. You can expect a lot more from us in the coming years, in all seasons” – Steven Vrendenbarg (Founder)

Together with Capital A, Mr Marvis will further professionalise and further accelerate its growth in Europe following a strategy both Mr Marvis and Capital A fully believe in.

“In order to realise our accelerated growth plan, a solid and reliable investment partner was looked for. We feel fortunate to have found Capital A as such a party. With this collaboration we aim to further accelerate our growth ambitions based on the MR MARVIS legacy.” – David Sipkens (Founder)

“Working with the highly entrepreneurial MR MARVIS team and ensuring a solid financial basis for this fundamentally strong company is a match made in heaven. As an investor, we have a keen interest in fast growing companies led by strong management teams. MR MARVIS is a perfect example of such a setting, and we are delighted and very proud to be able to support them in realising even more ambitious goals in the near future to let this wonderful brand grow.” – Arne Hamers (Capital A)

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Altor acquires a minority stake in global fashion house Totême

Altor

Altor Fund V (“Altor”) has signed an agreement to acquire a minority stake in Totême and enter into a partnership with the founders and other existing shareholders. Altor will support the founders and the company on its continued international growth journey. The founders will remain as majority shareholders and continue in their current roles in the development of Totême.

Founded by Elin Kling and Karl Lindman in 2014 in New York City, Totême is a fast-growing fashion label in the modern luxury universe, widely known for their iconic uniforms. The company is headquartered in Stockholm with a strong Swedish heritage but with a true global presence. Sales are evenly split between Asia, North America and Europe, with a predominantly online presence via its own web shop and online retailers. The company has grown rapidly and reached sales of ca SEK 350m.

Elin Kling and Karl Lindman will continue in their current roles as Creative Director and Brand Director with the company. “Ever since the start, we’ve had a clear sense of who we are and where we’re going” say Totême’s founders, “It was important for us to find the right partner for the next chapter in our global growth journey, without compromizing our brand values. We firmly believe that Altor’s extensive experience in relation to technology, E-commerce and sustainability in key markets will strengthen our business, and we are looking forward to achieving the next phase of our journey at Totême with Altor.”

Altor has a track record of partnering with founder-led consumer brands to successfully support these companies on their international growth journeys. “We are very impressed by what Totême, the management team and the employees have achieved to date. Totême has been built to a global fashion brand focused on high quality products and slow fashion consumerism”, says Stefan Linder, Partner at Altor, “We are excited to partner with the visionary founders, Elin Kling and Karl Lindman, and the CEO Johanna Andersson to support their vision of developing a world class luxury fashion house”.

For more information, please contact:
Christina Budarkiewicz, PR Manager at Totême, christina@toteme-studio.com, +46 738 05 90 60
Tor Krusell, Head of Communications at Altor, tor.krusell@altor.com, +46 705 43 87 47

About Totême

Totême was founded in 2014 by Elin Kling and Karl Lindman. From the studio in Stockholm, the label creates ready-to-wear, shoes, bags and accessories. Totême explores the appeal of a modern uniform through distinct design cues, meticulous craftsmanship and methodic repetition. Pieces are subtly refined and tweaked over time for a well-curated wardrobe that transcends trends. Totême employs a digital-first and direct-to-consumer business model which is mixed with selected online retailers and department stores. With a strong emphasis on local context and the physical space, the label completes their digital presence with a growing number of Totême retail stores.

For more information visit toteme-studio.com

About Altor

Since inception, the family of Altor funds has raised some EUR 8.3 billion in total commitments. The funds have invested in excess of EUR 5 billion in more than 75 companies. The investments have been made in medium sized predominantly Nordic companies with the aim to create value through growth initiatives and operational improvements. Among current and past investments are Aarke, Dustin, Helly Hansen, RevolutionRace and Rossignol.

For more information visit www.altor.com

Author: Katarina Karlsson
Date: 2021.05.21
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Frankenius Equity increases its ownership in Gina Tricot

Nordic Capital

November 19 2020
Frankenius Equity increases its ownership in Gina Tricot Image

 

Since 2014, Gina Tricot has been successfully developed by the founding family Appelqvist, together with Sätila, Frankenius Equity and Nordic Capital. Today, Gina Tricot is a leading, sustainable fashion company in the Nordic region with a rapidly growing digital business. Frankenius Equity has now acquired Nordic Capital’s ownership in Gina Tricot and will, alongside the other owners, continue to support the company’s development.

“It is very inspiring and exciting to have the opportunity to increase our ownership. Together with Appelqvist Holding and Sätila, I look forward to continuing to develop Gina Tricot based on the company’s market position today. Together with Nordic Capital, we have made significant investments in the company, with a focus on developing a fast-growing e-commerce business, a more sustainable production combined with the launch of several new concepts in the recent years. Gina Tricot stands for both simplicity and passion, both through its design and culture. This is something we will stick to on our continued joint journey “, says Paul Frankenius, Chairman of the Board and co-owner of Gina Tricot.

Gina Tricot was founded in 1997 in Borås by Annette and Jörgen Appelqvist with the vision of offering good fashion for little money. In 2014, Nordic Capital and Frankenius Equity joined as co-owners, with the joint ambition to create a competitive platform and to develop Gina Tricot’s e-commerce offering, which has become even more important during the current economic situation. Through a new IT system and a leading omnichannel structure, a very fast-growing digital commerce has been created, both in its own channels and with partners. Today, Gina Tricot has an annual turnover of approximately SEK 2 billion with 1,600 employees. The fashion industry is changing rapidly and the business has been strengthened at all levels to create the best customer experience.

“We are very proud of the fantastic journey we have been on together with all of our employees. Together with Nordic Capital, we have switched to a higher degree of digitalisation over the last few years, and we look forward to becoming an even more modern fashion company. The current position and the opportunities are great”, says Jörgen Appelqvist.

“Nordic Capital invested in Gina Tricot with a clear goal of developing and modernizing one of the Nordic region’s most well-known brands. Since then, Gina Tricot has strengthened its digital and commercial capacity to achieve stable profitability and growth, with ongoing support from Nordic Capital’s expertise in, among other things, digitization and sustainability. Together with Gina Tricot’s passionate employees, we have increased the company’s competitiveness” says David Samuelson, Principal, Nordic Capital Advisors.

The parties have agreed not to communicate financial details.

 

Media contacts:

Gina Tricot & Frankenius Equity

Sanna Franklin
Press Contact
Tel +46 70 863 85 55
email: sanna@cultcommunications.com

Nordic Capital

Katarina Janerud, Communications Manager
Nordic Capital Advisor
Tel: +46 8 440 50 50
email: katarina.janerud@nordiccapital.com

 

About Frankenius Equity

Frankenius Equity is a privately owned investment company with a focus on E-com, retail, medical technology and real estate. The company invests mainly together with operating partners and larger investment companies and currently has around ten investments. For more information visit www.fraq.se

About Gina Tricot

Gina Tricot is a Swedish fashion chain that offers exciting and feminine fashion to women in over 30 countries. The company has 162 stores and 1,600 employees. Our strength is to be able to attract the modern woman, in everything from design to price, quality and sustainability. We have a strong passion for fashion and aim to offer the customer a new and interesting shopping experience. For more information, visit www.ginatricot.com

About Nordic Capital

Nordic Capital is a leading private equity investor with a resolute commitment to creating stronger, sustainable businesses through operational improvement and transformative growth. Nordic Capital focuses on selected regions and sectors where it has deep experience and a long history. Focus sectors are Healthcare, Technology & Payments, Financial Services, and selectively, Industrial & Business Services. Key regions are Europe and globally for Healthcare and Technology & Payments investments. Since inception in 1989, Nordic Capital has invested more than EUR 15.5 billion in over 110 investments. The most recent fund is Nordic Capital Fund X with EUR 6.1 billion in committed capital, principally provided by international institutional investors such as pension funds. Nordic Capital Advisors have local offices in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Germany, the UK and the US. For further information about Nordic Capital, please visit www.nordiccapital.com

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Eurazeo Brands announces its first european transaction with an investment in Swedish Brand Axel Arigato alongside its founders

Eurazeo

Paris, 9 November 2020
Eurazeo today announced an investment in Axel Arigato, a Swedish premium sneaker, ready-to-wear and accessories brand recognized for its contemporary design, high-quality products and creative brand universe. Eurazeo Brands, the division of Eurazeo focused on differentiated consumer brands, is investing €56 million to become a majority shareholder, alongside its Founders Max Svärdh and Albin Johansson. This marks Eurazeo Brands’ first investment in Europe and highlights its transatlantic ambition and coverage.

Founded in 2014 in Gothenburg, Sweden, Axel Arigato is a high-growth, digitally-native company that has quickly become a leading player in the European premium sneaker market. The Company’s main objective is to embrace the now and always look for the tomorrow, with strong cultural references including music, art and architecture. As a result of its differentiated value proposition relying on minimalist and modern design, superior quality and a sustainable approach, the brand’s revenues have almost tripled since 2016.

Axel Arigato built a successful multi-channel distribution strategy with a strong direct-to-consumer foundation. The large community that stands behind the brand is highly engaged thanks to the company’s event-driven marketing strategy, its “drop of the week” model and unique online content. Its products are distributed worldwide through its e-commerce website, major online marketplaces such as Farfetch, MyTheresa and Ssense, six Axel Arigato retail locations, and select prestige department stores such as Le Bon Marché, Harrod’s and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Leveraging its proven brand building, operating and consumer expertise, Eurazeo Brands will partner with Axel Arigato to support its growth, in Europe in particular, by investing in its digital and e-commerce capabilities, developing its retail footprint in major European cities and enhancing the brand’s sustainability positioning. In addition, Eurazeo will provide its CSR expertise and international network throughout Europe, Asia and the United States to support the brand’s development in key markets.

Laurent Droin, Managing Director of Eurazeo Brands, said:
We have targeted the high-end sneaker market due to the premiumization and casualization trends we are seeing globally and believe Axel Arigato is an innovative and high potential brand in this sector, relying on an authentic and contemporary designer-based approach. We are delighted to partner with Max and Albin, and we look forward to working with the company to accelerate its international growth, strengthen its digital platform and expand in retail – bringing this impressive brand to new customers worldwide.

Albin Johansson and Max Svärdh, Founders of Axel Arigato, said:
We are very proud of the company we’ve built so far. Axel Arigato has established a strong presence in the premium sneaker market and a strong connection with our customers, driven by our unique value proposition, diverse range of products and successful direct-to-consumer strategy. Choosing the best partner for Axel Arigato was critical to continuing our momentum – Eurazeo’s deep brand-building experience and international network are key to accelerating our growth.

About Axel Arigato
• Axel Arigato is a Swedish designer sneaker brand. Digitally native and founded in 2014 by two friends, Max Svärdh and Albin Johansson, in Gothenburg, the brand has a differentiated positioning thanks to superior quality, wide product offering, a design conveying Nordic minimalist culture as well as a fair perceived price point. The strong brand universe is rooted in a global lifestyle experience, which resonates with a large and engaged community globally. Axel Arigato’s international presence is established through a multi-channel distribution strategy, including own website and retail stores, as well a selective network of online retailers and wholesalers.

About Eurazeo
• Eurazeo is a leading global investment company, with a diversified portfolio of €18,5 billion in assets under management, including €12,9 billion from third parties, invested in over 430 companies. With its considerable private equity, real estate and private debt expertise, Eurazeo accompanies companies of all sizes, supporting their development through the commitment of its nearly 300 professionals and by offering in-depth sector expertise, a gateway to global markets, and a responsible and stable foothold for transformational growth. Its solid institutional and family shareholder base, robust financial structure free of structural debt, and flexible investment horizon enable Eurazeo to support its companies over the long term.

• Eurazeo has offices in Paris, New York, Sao Paulo, Seoul, Shanghai, London, Luxembourg, Frankfurt, Berlin and Madrid.
• Eurazeo is listed on Euronext Paris.
• ISIN : FR0000121121 – Bloomberg : RF FP – Reuters : EURA.PA

EURAZEO CONTACTS

PRESS CONTACT

PIERRE BERNARDIN
HEAD OF INVESTOR RELATIONS
mail : pbernardin@eurazeo.com
Tél : +33 (0)1 44 15 16 76

VIRGINIE CHRISTNACHT
HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS
mail: vchristnacht@eurazeo.com
Tel: +33 1 44 15 76 44
MAITLAND/amo
DAVID STURKEN
mail: dsturken@maitland.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 7990 595 913

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Moda Operandi raises $100 million in new capital

Apax Digital

31 January 2020

Equity Investment Led by New Enterprise Associates and the Apax Digital Fund 

New York – Jan 31, 2020: Moda Operandi, the world’s leading platform for fashion discovery, today announced it has raised $100 million in new equity and debt financing, led by existing investors New Enterprise Associates, Inc. (NEA) and the Apax Digital Fund, with additional participation from the Santo Domingo Family, Comerica Bank and TriplePoint Capital, among others.

Moda Operandi raises $100 million in new capital

Moda will use the proceeds to continue to invest in its core client experience, innovative shopping model, unique curation of fashion, fine jewelry, and home decor, as well as the data and technology systems that power the Moda platform.

“For the past eight years, Moda has disrupted the way people shop for luxury fashion,” said Moda Operandi CEO Ganesh Srivats. “This investment will enable us to build on that innovation, investing further in the client and designer experience and connecting more of the world’s best fashion to more people.”

Dan O’Keefe, Managing Partner of Apax Digital, said: “We continue to be impressed with the power of Moda’s brand and its positioning in the luxury market. Moda has been enhancing its technology capabilities as a world leading platform for fashion discovery and is led by a world-class team. We look forward to continuing to support their expansion.”

“Moda Operandi has really disrupted the traditional ecommerce model, using technology to give people unprecedented access to fashion,” said Tony Florence, General Partner and Head of Technology Investing at NEA. “It was a really big idea when we led the Series A, and today Ganesh and the team are executing on that data-enabled retail model at scale. We are thrilled to continue supporting the company in this latest round.”

The new commitment brings Moda Operandi’s total equity capital raised to date to $345 million.

About Apax Digital

The Apax Digital Fund specializes in growth equity and buyout investments in high-growth enterprise software, consumer internet, and technology-enabled services companies worldwide. The Apax Digital team leverages Apax Partners’ deep tech investing expertise, global platform, and specialized operating experts, to enable technology companies and their management teams to accelerate the achievement of their full potential. For further information, please visit http://digital.apax.com.

Over its more than 40-year history, Apax Partners has raised and advised funds with aggregate commitments of c.$50 billion. These funds provide long-term equity financing to build and strengthen world-class companies. For more information see: www.apax.com.

About NEA

New Enterprise Associates, Inc. (NEA) is a global venture capital firm focused on helping entrepreneurs build transformational businesses across multiple stages, sectors and geographies. With more than $20 billion in cumulative committed capital since the firm’s founding in 1977, NEA invests in technology and healthcare companies at all stages in a company’s lifecycle, from seed stage through IPO. The firm’s long track record of successful investing includes more than 230 portfolio company IPOs and more than 390 mergers and acquisitions. www.nea.com.

About Moda Operandi

Moda Operandi is an e-commerce platform transforming the way people discover and shop for designer fashion. Through its innovative mix of commerce and content, Moda allows women and men to shop for what’s new and what’s next in designer fashion from the world’s leading emerging designers and luxury brands. Founded in 2010, Moda Operandi’s mission is to make it easy for designers to grow their businesses and consumers to realize their personal style. Today, Moda’s platform carries more than 1,000 brands and designers across fashion, fine jewelry and home, and ships to 125 countries. For more information, visit modaoperandi.com.

Media Contacts:

Moda Operandi

Alexandra Valasek | alexandra.valasek@modaoperandi.com

Apax Digital / Apax Partners

Global Media: Andrew Kenny, Apax | +44 20 7 872 6371 | andrew.kenny@apax.com
U.S. Media: Todd Fogarty, Connor Moriarty, Kekst CNC | +1 212 521 4800 | Apax@kekstcnc.com
UK Media: Matthew Goodman / James Madsen, Greenbrook | +44 20 7952 2000 | apax@greenbrookpr.com

NEA

Kate Barrett | KBarrett@nea.com

 

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Latour completes acquisition of Custom LeatherCraft Mfg. LLC.

Latour logo

On August 30th, Investment AB Latour, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Hultafors Group AB, signed an agreement to acquire Custom LeatherCraft Mfg. LLC (“CLC”) based in Los Angeles, CA, USA. All closing conditions have now been fulfilled and the transaction has been completed as of September 16th.

Göteborg, September 16, 2019

INVESTMENT AB LATOUR (PUBL)
Johan Hjertonsson, CEO

For further information, please contact:
Ole Kristian Jødahl, CEO Hultafors Group AB, +47 900 88 305
Jens Eriksson, Director, M&A and Strategy Hultafors Group AB, +46 702 114 601

Hultafors Group is one of Europe’s largest companies to supply workwear, footwear, head protection, hand tools and ladders for professional users. The products are developed, manufactured and marketed as their own brands, which are available through leading distributors in about 40 markets, with emphasis on Europe and North America. Hultafors Group has more than 800 employees and an annual turnover of more than SEK 2.6 billion.

Investment AB Latour is a mixed investment company consisting primarily of a wholly-owned industrial operations and an investment portfolio of listing holdings in which Latour is the principal owner or one of the principal owners. The investment portfolio consists of nine substantial holdings with a market value of about SEK 59 billion. The wholly-owned industrial operations had an annual turnover of about SEK 12 billion in 2018.

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