MBO Partenaires backs Noukie’s

Details regarding the value of the investment have yet to be disclosed by MBO Partenaires.

Following the deal, the Paris-based firm will hold a minority participation in the company while founders Simon-Pierre and Katia Gilliot will retain their majority stake.

MBO invested via MBO Capital 3, a vehicle launched in August 2010 and which held a final close on €180m later that year, according to unquote" data.

Although the fund focuses on buyouts, it has been known to finance expansion deals such as the €27m funding round for wine business Raphaël Michel in 2013.

MBO Partenaires was attracted by Noukie's already developed brand within the French and Belgian markets. The Belgian toy business intends to use the fresh capital to reinforce its presence in France, having acquired six stores last year in the Paris region.

The GP is considering future re-investments in Noukie's to help the company boost its revenues to €30m and expand into other European countries.

Company
Founded in 1996 by Simon-Pierre and Katia Gilliot, Noukie's sells soft toys for babies, as well as clothing and furniture. It is headquartered in Saintes-Sint Renelde, Belgium. The company offers services including a registry for incoming newborns or retrieval for lost or damaged baby items. It generated €23m in revenues in 2014.

People
MBO Partenaires was represented by associate director Julien Wormser and senior investment manager Géraldine Lanthier-Coulange. Simon-Pierre and Katia Gilliot are co-founders of Noukie's.

Advisers
Equity - Transaction R, Fabien Lenoir, Amélie du Chalard (Corporate finance); Liedekerke, Damien Conem, Raphaël Piront (Legal, tax, environmental due diligence); Grant Thornton (Financial due diligence).
Company - CMS De Backer, Arnaud van Oekel, David Prync (Legal).

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• Topics
• Benelux
• Expansion
• Consumer
• Belgium
• MBO Partenaires