Ratos Company HL Display to acquire pr trading-Flekota A/S

Ratos

HL Display (HL) has signed an agreement to acquire pr trading-Flekota A/S (pr trading), its distribution partner in Denmark. This acquisition will expand HL’s footprint in Europe and further strengthen its position as a leading supplier for in-store merchandising and communication solutions to grocery and non-food retailers in Europe.

pr trading (founded in 1968) has a long and successful history as a trusted supplier of standard and custom-made display and in-store solutions to Danish grocery retail as well as non-food retailers and brand suppliers. Building on a shared ambition to create attractive and profitable in-store environments, the company has been a distribution partner of HL since the 1970s. pr trading today has 38 employees and a turnover of 160 MDKK, with a track record of strong growth.

“HL’s profitable growth journey continues at a steady pace and is characterized by underlying good organic growth combined with a high acquisition rate of fine companies, precisely the type of deals that have great industrial synergies. Add-on acquisitions of this type are highly value-creating and an important part of Ratios’ strategy. With the acquisition of pr trading, HL is taking yet another important step,” says Anders Slettengren, Chairman of the Board of HL Display and Executive Vice President, Ratos.

“I’m delighted to announce our intention to acquire pr trading,” says Björn Borgman, CEO of HL Display. “The company has been an essential partner to HL for more than 50 years and given the expertise and strong position in Danish retail, pr trading is a natural fit for HL. This acquisition is the logical next step on our journey to be the leading supplier for in-store merchandising and communication solutions in Europe.”

The completion of the acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by competition authorities, which is expected to be obtained during the first quarter of 2024.

About HL Display
HL is a global leader in in-store merchandising and communication solutions, helping customers to create a better shopping experience around the world. Founded in 1954, HL today is present in more than 70 countries and solutions can be found in 330,000 stores, supporting customers to grow sales, inspire shoppers, drive automation, and reduce waste. The three customer segments are retail food, branded good suppliers and non-food retail.

The HL Display Group has its headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden, and sales offices in 23 countries covering 39 markets as well as distribution partners covering the remaining markets globally. The eight production facilities are located in Sweden, Poland, Germany, the UK, and China and handle a variety of industrial processes, including plastics and metal fabrication, printing and assembly.
The company has 1,300 employees and net sales of approximately 2,000 MSEK.

For more information, please contact:
Josefine Uppling, VP Communication, Ratos, +46 76 114 54 21
Björn Borgman, CEO HL Display, +46 72 264 17 90

About Ratos
Ratos is a business group consisting of 17 companies divided into three business areas: Construction & Services, Consumer and Industry. The companies have approximately SEK 34 billion in net sales (LTM). Our business concept is to own and develop companies that are or can become market leaders. We have a distinct corporate culture and strategy – everything we do is based on our core values: Simplicity, Speed in execution and It’s All About People. We enable independent companies to excel by being part of something larger. People, leadership, culture and values are key focus areas.

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Torqx Capital Partners declares offer for Beter Bed Holding unconditional; 95.14% of Shares now tendered or committed

Torqx Capital

Torqx declares the public offer on Beter Bed Holding unconditional per 29 November 2023; in total 95.14% of the Shares are offered or committed, of which 44.33% of the shares are irrevocably committed by the co-investors.

Settlement of the Offer will take place on Friday 1 December 2023. Payment of the Offer Price for each Tendered and Delivered Share shall be made on the same date. Shares which are not tendered yet can be tendered during the Post-Acceptance Period, commencing on 30 November 2023 and ending on 6 December 2023.

Information about the offer and how you can tender your shares can be found at:  www.beterbedholding.com/public-offer/.

For further information, see also the press release about the offer being declared unconditional:

Link to press release

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Aurelius acquires iconic global beauty brand and retailer The Body Shop

Aurelius Capital
  • Opportunity to re-energise an iconic global beauty and personal care brand with impressive consumer recognition
  • Trailblazer which has set the standard for beauty brands in minimising environmental impact, maximising social benefits and ensuring animal welfare
  • AURELIUS’ operational taskforce to partner with the highly experienced management team to optimise operations and develop the offering across channels

Luxembourg/Munich, November 14, 2023 – AURELIUS announces the acquisition of The Body Shop International Limited (The Body Shop) from Natura & Co S.A (NYSE – NTCO; B3 – NTCO3). The iconic global beauty brand is renowned for its heritage in cruelty-free and ethical beauty products. It is an omni-channel retailer with its own stores, e-commerce sites, international franchises and wholesale customers. The transaction is expected to close in December 2023, subject to approval by the relevant competition and regulatory authorities. The purchase agreement values The Body Shop at £207m, including an earn-out of £90m, subject to certain conditions.

The Body Shop, which is headquartered in London and employs c. 7,000 staff, has operations in 89 markets with over 900 company-owned stores in 20 countries and partnerships with head franchisees who operate c. 1,600 franchised stores in a further 69 geographies. The brand’s product portfolio comprises natural ingredient-based bath & body, skin care, fragrance, hair care, make-up and gifting. The Body Shop has been B-Corp certified since 2019, further demonstrating its leadership in ethical sourcing, sustainability, and social consciousness.

As experts in complex transactions, with a strong focus on driving operational improvements, AURELIUS will work with the management team to drive operational excellence across the group, leveraging its expertise and experience in the omni-channel retail and wholesale markets. This, combined with The Body Shop’s iconic brand and heritage in socially responsible products, means that despite the challenging retail market there is an opportunity to re-energise the business to enable it to take advantage of positive trends in the high-growth beauty market.

In recent years, AURELIUS has completed many complex corporate carve-outs across Europe, including the acquisitions of renowned brands such as Footasylum from JD Sports and LSG Sky Chefs (LSG Group) from Deutsche Lufthansa AG.

“We are delighted to be undertaking this acquisition of an iconic British brand, which pioneered the cruelty-free and natural ingredient movement in the health and beauty market. We look forward to working with CEO Ian Bickley and his team to drive operational improvements and re-energise the business, and help to deliver the next chapter of success”, comments Tristan Nagler, Partner at AURELIUS.

Ian Bickley, CEO of The Body Shop, added, “Today, we celebrate a truly historic moment for The Body Shop as we join forces with Aurelius to begin a new chapter, allowing us to continue building the relevancy of this global brand for future generations. With a presence in over 80 countries, The Body Shop is not only a beauty brand, but also an iconic social business that has captured hearts in nearly every corner of the world. We are deeply grateful to Natura &Co for their unwavering support and I’m looking forward to working hand in hand with Aurelius as we adapt and flourish in new global retail environments, always with an eye on sustainable and profitable growth.”

The Body Shop was founded in 1976 by Anita Roddick, with a small shop in Brighton/UK. At the heart of her vision stood an ethical approach to business, a purpose that was trail-blazing at the time and remains highly relevant today. The Body Shop does not test its products on animals and strives to work fairly with farmers and suppliers. By following this approach to business, The Body Shop has been a pioneer in corporate social responsibility.

For further information contact:

AURELIUS
Humza Vanderman / Methuselah Tanyanyiwa
Dentons Global Advisors
Aurelius@dentonsglobaladvisors.com
Tel: +44 (0)7824 472501

Natura &Co
Emilia Lebron
Head of External Communications
+44 (0) 7580 816371
Emilia.lebron@avon.com

Brunswick Group
São Paulo + 55 11 3076 7620
London + 44 020 7404 5959
natura@brunswickgroup.com

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Iconic Apparel Brands Ann Taylor, LOFT and Talbots Come Together as KnitWell Group

Sycamore
August 30, 2023

NEW YORK, NY (August 30, 2023) Sycamore Partners, a private equity firm specializing in consumer, distribution, and retail-related investments, today announced the formation of KnitWell Group (“KnitWell”), a new holding company comprising industry-leading apparel brands Ann Taylor, LOFT, and Talbots. Together, these brands generate more than $3 billion in annual sales. The Company will also continue to provide oversight and shared services to Lane Bryant, a leading plus-size women’s apparel brand. Together, these brands position KnitWell as one of the largest specialty apparel companies in the United States.

KnitWell’s name reflects the Company’s core belief that each strong brand is distinctive, but when put together they are a powerhouse retail organization dedicated to meeting customers where they are in their journey.

Lizanne Kindler, current Chief Executive Officer of Talbots, will lead KnitWell Group as Executive Chair and Chief Executive Officer. She is joined in the Office of the Executive Chair by a seasoned team of retail executives, and further supported by senior leaders at each of the brands – all of whom are dedicated to the unique needs of their customers.

“KnitWell is a collection of powerful brands that, in aggregate, have been providing customers with the fashions they want for nearly 300 years,” said Ms. Kindler. “Brands are propelled by a deep and meaningful connection with the customers they serve, and that is where we start and end each day. With that as our North Star, we know that this new structure will support our efforts to unite brands and people by providing greater resources and capabilities, economies of scale, and enhanced value. We are excited about the opportunities ahead and grateful for our more than 30,000 associates for being part of this next chapter.”

Stefan Kaluzny, Managing Director of Sycamore Partners, added, “Lizanne and the team have done an incredible job over the last decade reviving and growing these iconic American brands, first Talbots and most recently Ann Taylor and LOFT. The consistent and focused approach, which  leverages the replicable playbook this team has developed, is laying the foundation of success not only for the brands currently part of the KnitWell portfolio, but also for potential future brands. We look forward to our continued partnership with Lizanne and the entire team.”

Contacts

Sycamore Partners

Michael Freitag or Arielle Rothstein
Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
212-355-4449
media@sycamorepartners.com

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Ratos Company HL Display to acquire Akriform

Ratos

HL Display (HL) has signed an agreement to acquire Akriform Plast AB (Akriform), a producer of bulk bins and custom-made solutions for grocery retail and branded goods suppliers. The acquisition will strengthen HL’s leading position in Europe in the fast-growing segment of packaging-free merchandising and create a strong offer of custom-made solutions for customers in the Nordic markets.

Founded in 1980, Akriform has built a strong position as an expert in the production of bulk merchandising and custom-made solutions, providing high quality products to their customers. The company is based in Sollentuna, Sweden and has annual sales of 80 MSEK.

“HL Display’s successful growth journey continues. The acquisition of Akriform is completely in line with Ratos’ acquisition strategy where additional acquisitions in existing companies are an important part, and is another statement of strength in HL Display,” says Anders Slettengren, Chairman of the Board of HL Display and Executive Vice President, Ratos.

“Akriform has built an impressive reputation as a producer of custom-made retail solutions, thanks to a team of experts in design, development and production. The product portfolio is especially strong in the fast-growing segment of packaging-free merchandising where HL see increasing demand from both retailers, branded goods suppliers and shoppers across Europe. The merged product ranges will create a strong offer for our customers, supporting our position as the leading supplier of in-store communication and merchandising solutions for the grocery industry,” says Björn Borgman, CEO, HL Display.

The acquisition will be completed on 1 March 2023.

About HL Display
HL is a global leader in in-store merchandising and communication solutions, helping customers to create a better shopping experience around the world. Founded in 1954, HL today is present in more than 70 countries and solutions can be found in 330,000 stores, supporting customers to grow sales, inspire shoppers, drive automation, and reduce waste. The three customer segments are retail food, branded good suppliers and non-food retail.

The HL Display Group has its headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden and sales offices in 23 countries covering 39 markets as well as distribution partners covering the remaining markets globally. The five production facilities are located in Sweden, Poland, the UK and China and handle a variety of industrial processes, including plastics and metal fabrication, printing and assembly.The company has 1,100 employees and net sales of 1,900 MSEK. HL is a wholly owned subsidiary of the listed Swedish Business Group Ratos.

For more information, please contact:
Josefine Uppling, VP Communication, Ratos, +46 76 114 54 21
Björn Borgman, CEO, HL Display, +46 72 264 17 90

About Ratos
Ratos is a business group consisting of 16 companies divided into three business areas: Construction & Services, Consumer and Industry. The companies have approximately SEK 32 billion in net sales (LTM). Our business concept is to own and develop companies that are or can become market leaders. We have a distinct corporate culture and strategy – everything we do is based on our core values: Simplicity, Speed in execution and It’s All About People. We enable independent companies to excel by being part of something larger. People, leadership, culture and values are key focus areas.

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Carlyle provides c. £370m in debt financing for Caffè Nero

London, UK – 17 January 2022 – Global investment firm Carlyle (NASDAQ: CG) today announced that its Global Credit platform has provided a debt financing package of c. £370 million to support the refinancing and future growth of The Caffè Nero Group (the “Group”), a leading operator of premium coffee shops.

Founded over 20 years ago by Gerry Ford, who remains CEO today, The Caffè Nero Group operates four premium coffee house brands: Caffè Nero, Coffee #1, Harris + Hoole, and Aroma. The Group has over 1,000 stores across 10 countries, of which c. 750 are based in the UK, and employs more than 7,700 people, with over 5,600 of these individuals based in the UK.

As a result of this transaction, the Group has reduced its debt exposure while strengthening the company’s balance sheet and providing it with additional funds to support its growth plans. The ownership structure of the Group remains unchanged, with the majority shareholding remaining with Gerry Ford and his family and friends.

Gerry Ford, Founder & CEO of The Caffè Nero Group, said: “Our new capital structure will allow us to focus on future growth, and I very much look forward to working with Carlyle as we leverage their financial and strategic expertise to take the Caffè Nero brand to new heights.”

Taj Sidhu, Head of European Illiquid Credit at Carlyle, said: “We look forward to supporting Caffè Nero Founder & CEO Gerry Ford and his team in their next phase of growth. This transaction is a great example of Carlyle’s flexible capital and track record in privately negotiating capital solutions for founders and entrepreneurs.”

Merrill Goulding, a Managing Director in Carlyle’s Illiquid Credit platform, said: “We are delighted to partner with Caffè Nero, a much-loved high street brand thanks to its reputation for providing high-quality, premium coffee over several decades. We are excited to support the many growth opportunities that lie ahead for the company as it continues to capitalise on its competitive offering and market-leading positioning.”

Within Carlyle’s $66 billion Global Credit platform, its Illiquid Credit business pursues investments in privately negotiated capital solutions primarily for upper middle market borrowers, including both private equity sponsored and family or entrepreneur-owned companies.

ENDS

 

Media Contact:

Andrew Kenny
andrew.kenny@carlyle.com
+44 7816 176120

About Carlyle

Carlyle (NASDAQ: CG) is a global investment firm with deep industry expertise that deploys private capital across three business segments: Global Private Equity, Global Credit and Global Investment Solutions. With $293 billion of assets under management as of September 30, 2021, Carlyle’s purpose is to invest wisely and create value on behalf of its investors, portfolio companies and the communities in which we live and invest. Carlyle employs more than 1,800 people in 26 offices across five continents. Further information is available at www.carlyle.com. Follow Carlyle on Twitter @OneCarlyle.

 

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Baring Private Equity Asia and Alibaba Enter Partnership with The CrownX: Leads USD400mm Investment

Ho Chi Minh City, 18th May 2021 – Masan Group Corporation (HOSE: MSN, “Masan”) and a consortium led by Alibaba Group (“Alibaba”) and Baring Private Equity Asia (“BPEA”) today announced the signing of definitive agreements for the acquisition of a 5.5% stake in The CrownX (“TCX” or the “Company”) for a total cash consideration of USD400 million (the “Transaction”). The CrownX is Masan’s integrated consumer retail arm that consolidates its interests in Masan Consumer Holdings (“MCH”) and VinCommerce (“VCM”). The Transaction implies a pre-money valuation of USD6.9 billion for 100% of its equity, an equivalent of USD93.5 (c. VND 2,150,000) per share. Masan will own 80.2% of the Company post the consortium’s investment.

The formation of The CrownX last year brought together two industry leaders to form a consumer and retail powerhouse. As part of Alibaba’s investment, The CrownX will now partner with Lazada to build the Company’s digital presence and capabilities and accelerate the offline to online (“O2O”) market in Vietnam. With this partnership, the Transaction marks a shared vision across the Company’s shareholders that The CrownX has the potential to establish Vietnam’s first tech-enabled consumer ecosystem and expand its reach to serve consumers nationwide.

This strategic partnership will accelerate our ability to achieve our goal of transforming The CrownX into a one-stop shop to serve consumers’ everyday needs, whether offline or online, “Point of Life”. Our immediate priority is to modernize Vietnam’s grocery market and develop an unparalleled consumer proposition from assortment to shopping experience,” said Danny Le, Chief Executive Officer of Masan Group. “I strongly believe that this partnership will reduce our learning curve and enable us to reach our endgame more efficiently and effectively”.

“The combination of Alibaba’s online retail expertise, Lazada’s e-commerce platform in Vietnam, and Masan’s leading offline network will be a strong catalyst to modernize Vietnam’s retail landscape. We look forward to building a champion offline-to-online platform alongside Masan,” said Kenny Ho, Head of Investment for Southeast Asia, Alibaba Group. 

“We are delighted to be partnering with Masan and Alibaba, and believe this strategic investment has the potential to supercharge The CrownX’s growth in a nascent retail market and create the largest consumer ecosystem in Vietnam. As a long-term investor in the country, we think Vietnam has a long runway for growth supported by strong macroeconomic tailwinds and attractive demographics,” said Janice Leow, Managing Director at BPEA. “The CrownX also has tremendous digital potential, particularly in e-commerce and data analytics. BPEA prioritizes digital transformation in all of our portfolio companies, and we look forward to working with the Company in its next stage of growth.”

As a part of the Transaction, VCM will enter a Strategic Cooperation Agreement (“SCA”) with Lazada, Alibaba’s South East Asia e-commerce platform:

  • VCM will be the preferred grocery retailer of choice on Lazada’s e-commerce platform in Vietnam
  • The parties will co-share know-how, co-develop analytics to develop grocery as a key online category
  • Transform VCM’s offline stores into pick-up points for online orders
  • Explore synergies between the respective parties’ logistics platforms for service and cost optimization for consumers

Grocery accounts for 50% of Vietnam’s retail market and 25% of consumer wallet share and is of essential daily use, but online penetration is still nascent. Masan has aspirations for The CrownX’s online Gross Merchandise Value to account for at least 5% of its total sales value in the upcoming years.

Credit Suisse (Singapore) Limited acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Masan Group. Deutsche Bank acted as the exclusive financial advisor to BPEA. The Transaction closing is subject to customary corporate approvals.

Masan is also in advanced discussions regarding a further strategic investment of USD300 – 400 million into The CrownX from other investors, expected to close in 2021.

MASAN GROUP CORPORATION

Masan Group Corporation (“Masan”) believes in doing well by doing good. The Company’s mission is to provide better products and services to the 100 million people of Vietnam so that they can pay less for their daily basic needs. Masan aims to achieve this by driving productivity with technological innovations, trusted brands, and focusing on fewer but bigger opportunities that impact the most lives.

Masan Group’s member companies and associates are industry leaders in branded food and beverages, branded meat, value-add chemical processing, and financial services, altogether representing segments of Vietnam’s economy that are experiencing the most transformational growth.

BARING PRIVATE EQUITY ASIA

Baring Private Equity Asia (BPEA) is one of the largest private alternative investment firms in Asia, with assets under management of USD23 billion. BPEA manages a private equity investment program, sponsoring buyouts and providing growth capital to companies for expansion or acquisitions with a particular focus on the Asia Pacific region, as well as dedicated funds focused on private real estate and private credit. The firm has a 24-year history and over 200 employees located across offices in Hong Kong, China, India, Japan, Australia, Singapore, and the US.

BPEA is a responsible investor that seeks to create value for all stakeholders through a sustainable approach to investing. The Firm is a signatory to the UNPRI (United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment) and is committed to action within its own business and the companies in which it invests to drive sustainability across a range of issues, from climate change to social concerns to effective governance.

For more information, please visit www.bpeasia.com.

ALIBABA GROUP

Alibaba Group’s mission is to make it easy to do business anywhere. The company aims to build the future infrastructure of commerce. It envisions that its customers will meet, work and live at Alibaba, and that it will be a good company that lasts for 102 years.

THE CROWN X

The CrownX is a consumer-retail platform that currently consolidates Masan’s interests in MCH and VCM. The company was established with the vision to become a “Point of Life” platform in order to provide more products and services to Vietnamese consumers online and offline.

CONTACTS:

Investors/Analysts

Tanveer Gill
T: +84 28 6256 3862
E: tanveer@msn.masangroup.com

Media

Van Pham
T: +84 90 9216 292
E: vanpth@msn.masangroup.com

For BPEA

Fergus Herries
T : +852 5970 3618
E : fergus.herries@newgate.asia

This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding Masan’s expectations, intentions or strategies that may involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements, including Masan’s expectations, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond Masan’s control, which may cause Masan’s actual results of operations, financial condition, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions, future events or promises of future performance.

 

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Alteri Investors bolsters senior team across investment and operations; expects increase in transaction opportunities

Alteri
  • Charlie Edwards (ex Caledonia Investments) to lead Alteri’s UK deal generation
  • Additional new hires further strengthen Alteri’s investment and operational expertise
  • Increased transaction opportunities anticipated as retail sector transitions into the ‘next normal’

London, 14th April 2021: Alteri Investors, the specialist investor in the European retail sector, today announces the appointment of Charlie Edwards as UK Investment Director.  Charlie joins from Caledonia Investments where he led multiple investments over the last 10 years with a focus on UK MBOs.  Prior to Caledonia, he spent eight years at KPMG, principally in Restructuring and Transaction Services.  Charlie will lead the generation, execution and management of Alteri’s UK deals.

Charlie’s appointment follows a number of other new hires, as Alteri further develops its operational expertise, extends its analytical capabilities and enhances its organisational effectiveness. Namely, Raul Portela (ex Helly Hansen, Triumph and Burberry) joined last year as Operating Partner alongside Antoine Laffont (ex Jefferies) and Borja Rosales (ex Rothschild), who joined as Associates.  Martin Bavinton (ex Oakley Capital) was appointed as General Counsel and Compliance Officer earlier this year.

Commenting on the appointments, CEO Gavin George said, “We have assembled a world-class team with real strength in depth across our investment and operations teams.  Our highly successful first fund underlined our ability to help retailers transform into thriving digitally-led businesses.  Now, with plenty of dry powder remaining in our second investment vehicle Alteri II, we are looking forward to partnering with management teams of retail businesses, as they emerge from the toughest 12 months the sector has ever seen.”

Charlie Edwards added, “I am really excited to join the team and help it build on its previous success. As the UK retail sector transitions to the ‘next normal’ post Covid, there will be some really exciting investment opportunities ahead with great value creation potential.”

Contact: Maitland/AMO

Clinton Manning, Sam Cartwright 020 7379 5151

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HL Display acquires CoolPresentation to improve market position in the Netherlands

Ratos

HL Display is acquiring CoolPresentation, a provider of shelf merchandising solutions for grocery retail in the Netherlands. The acquisition will strengthen HL’s customer base and position as a leading supplier for in-store merchandising and communication solutions to grocery retailers in Europe.

HL Display is strengthening its market position through the acquisition of CoolPresentation, a provider of shelf merchandising solutions based in Heerenveen, the Netherlands. The company has an annual sale of around €4m. Founded in 1997, CoolPresentation has built a strong position in Dutch retail, providing high quality products and service levels to both grocery retail, pharmacies and brand suppliers.

“Since the founding in 1997, CoolPresentation has grown into a well-established supplier of shelf merchandising in Dutch food retail,” says Björn Borgman, CEO of HL Display. “Their passion for retail and excellent service levels make CoolPresentation a perfect fit for HL. Furthermore, merging both companies’ product ranges will create a strong offer to an expanded customer base which will support our market position as a leading supplier of in-store communication and merchandising solutions for the grocery industry.”

“With the acquisition of the CoolPresentation we gain access to new customers in the Netherlands and consolidate the market further enabling both production and other synergies. The acquisition is another step in HLs journey to further strengthen its market leadership position across Europe, with both organic and inorganic growth,” says Joakim Twetman, Head of Business Area Industry, Ratos.

The acquisition was completed on 1st of April 2021.

For further information, please contact:
Joakim Twetman, Head of Business Area Industry, Ratos
+46 70 339 16 66
joakim.twetman@ratos.com

Björn Borgman, CEO, HL Display
+46 722 64 17 90
Bjorn.Borgman@hl-display.com

 

About HL Display:
HL Display is a global leader in in-store merchandising and communication solutions, helping customers to create a better shopping experience around the world. Founded in 1954, HL today is present in more than 70 countries and solutions can be found in 295,000 stores, helping customers to grow sales, inspire shoppers, drive automation, and reduce waste. The HL Display Group has its headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden and sales companies covering 26 markets as well as distributor partners covering the remaining markets globally. The company has 1,000 employees and net sales of 1,520 MSEK.

About Ratos:
Ratos is a business group consisting of 11 companies divided into three business areas: Construction & Services, Consumer & Technology and Industry. In total, the companies have SEK 33 billion in sales. Our business concept is to develop companies headquartered in the Nordics that are or can become market leaders. We enable independent companies to excel by being part of something larger. People, leadership, culture and values are key focus areas for Ratos. Everything we do is based on Ratos’s core values: Simplicity, Speed in Execution and It’s All About People.

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Landers Superstore partners with CVC as it targets expansion of its branch network

CVC Capital Partners

Investment from CVC Capital Partners Asia V will improve the membership experience and accelerate new store rollouts

Landers Superstore (“Landers”), one of the fastest growing large-format retailers in the Philippines, has partnered with CVC Capital Partners (“CVC”) as it accelerates its expansion in the Philippine market. Landers has rapidly grown to a network of five branches with more than 45,000 sqm of retail space in Metro Manila and Metro Cebu. From its opening in 2016, Landers has consistently surpassed its revenue targets, and in 2020 achieved year-on-year growth of 22% despite the pandemic.

The market has responded positively to Landers’ membership-only value centric approach. From offering the best deals at its Chevron branded fuel stations to attractive sales discounts for its members in store, the Landers formula of offering access to thousands of global products at reasonable prices is a winning one for Landers’ growing membership.

CVC has a long track record of strengthening companies’ operations in Asia, having been active in the region for over 20 years. CVC’s global network and partnerships provide Landers with access to key strategic components in the areas of supply chain, technology and retail operations, which will be important for its expansion plans. CVC is well positioned to support this strategy while its experience gained through the successful expansion of BJ’s Wholesale Club in the U.S. will be valuable.

Lowell L. Yu, Chairman of Landers Superstore commented: “Landers Superstore is ready for its next stage of growth which will take Landers’ proposition to more communities nationwide. We are excited to have CVC with us in bringing this world-class, global, shopping experience to more Filipinos in the years to come.”

Brice Cu, Managing Director and Head of the Philippines for CVC Capital Partners said: “Landers’ unique and outstanding value proposition to its members has allowed it to build a strong brand in a short period of time. CVC will leverage its global platform and our extensive experience operating and investing in the consumer and retail sectors to help Landers continue to deliver first class services to all its members. We are delighted to partner with the management team to embark on Landers’ next stage of growth.”

This is the second investment CVC has announced in the Philippines in the last six months, following the investment in Fast Logistics Group in December 2020.

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