Accent Equity divests Eurowrap to Exacompta Clairefontaine
Stockholm, 11 March 2019
Accent Equity and minority shareholders have agreed to divest Eurowrap to the paper products group Exacompta Clairefontaine
Since Accent Equity became the majority shareholder of Eurowrap in 2014, the company has despite challenging market conditions been able to maintain its market position and market-leading profitability. As part of Exacompta Clairefontaine, Eurowrap will now be in a much stronger position to continue its development and to provide its customers an improved product offering
The investment fund Accent Equity 2012 L.P. (“Accent Equity”) and the minority shareholders have agreed to divest 100% of the shares in AE4 2012 Holding AB and operating subsidiaries (“Eurowrap”) to Clairefontaine Rhodia. Eurowrap is one of Europe’s leading suppliers of gift packaging including gift wrap, gift bags, gift tags, bows and ribbon and other related products. Eurowrap has a production facility in Denmark and trading operations with in-house designing capabilities in the UK. Eurowrap's products are primarily sold to leading European retailers, mainly in the UK, Germany, and the Nordic countries. Net sales in 2017/2018 amounted to approximately EUR 30 million.
“Ever since Accent Equity acquired Eurowrap in 2014, the market conditions have become tougher and more competitive. However, thanks to its strong management team, Eurowrap has managed to retain and obtain new key accounts, while keeping its market leading profitability. We are so happy that the company has found its new industrial home with such a great enterprise as Exacompta Clairefontaine”, says Niklas Sloutski, CEO and Partner at Accent Equity Partners AB, advisor to Accent Equity. Clairefontaine Rhodia is a part of the French group Exacompta Clairefontaine, quoted on Euronext Paris. The group has roots dating back to 1858 and is active within manufacturing, transformation and distribution of paper products. The group gathers 3,300 employees through 50 companies across Europe and turns over approximately EUR 600 million.
“Accent Equity has been a great support to our business during the last couple of years. We now look forward to becoming part of the Exacompta Clairefontaine Group and being able to provide our customers an improved offering in terms of product width and strong brands. I am extremely pleased to announce to all our employees that we have now found a solid industrial long-term owner with a great ambition to develop our company”, says Anders Ditlev Jørgensen, CEO of Eurowrap. The transaction is conditional upon approval by the German competition authority and is expected to be completed during March or April 2019. PwC Sweden (M&A), Mannheimer Swartling (legal) and Accura Advokatpartnerselskab (legal) assisted Accent Equity in connection with the transaction.
For additional information, please contact: Niklas Sloutski, CEO and Partner at Accent Equity Partners AB, +46 8 545 073 00 About Accent Equity: Founded in 1994, Accent Equity is one of the buy-out investment pioneers in the Nordic region. Since then, Accent Equity funds have invested in 84 companies, of which 66 investments have been realised. Accent Equity’s ambition is to develop the portfolio companies to be Nordic, European or Global leaders through sustainable improvements of their operations as well as by their strategic positioning. Accent Equity Partners is the investment advisor to all Accent Equity funds. www.accentequity.se