Advent in talks to buy Douglas stake

The news follow a series of failed attempts by private equity houses to take the business private. Previous contenders are said to have included BC Partners and Permira.

According to reports, Advent is in talks with the Kreke family, which owns 12.7% of the shares, as well as Erwin Mueller (which owns a 10.8% stake) and the Oetker family, which is the largest Douglas shareholder.

CEO Henning Kreke reportedly wants to take the business private with the help of investors, but it is not clear whether a deal will be reached due to uncertainty surrounding Mueller's intentions and the restructuring of the group's struggling bookshop business Thalia. Some sources say a deal is not imminent.

Douglas shares currently trade at €33.76. The largest shareholder in the business is the Oetker family, founders of the Dr Oetker food empire, with a 25.8% stake.

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• Topics
• Consumer
• DACH
• Germany
• Permira
• BC Partners
• Advent International