Capvis buys hessnatur

Capvis acquired a 100% stake in this all-equity transaction. It wants to keep hessnatur in Germany and pay particular attention to preserving its identity and values when taking it into the growth phase, according to the GP.

The firm plans to open further brick-and-mortar shops in Germany, increase the company's product range and venture into the wholesale trade within a holding period of five to seven years.

The business is part of a range of portfolio companies sold off by Primondo since it was declared bankrupt in September 2009 – in 2010 the group sold six of its niche companies to Carlyle.

Company
Since its foundation by Heinz Hess in Butzbach in 1976, Frankfurt am Main-based hessnatur has grown to a staff of 330, serving around one million customers in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the US.

The producer of natural and fair-trade clothing has three brick and mortar shops as well as an online shop and a catalogue business. It posted a €73m turnover in 2011. hessnatur's EBITDA is not disclosed but the business is profitable.

People
Daniel Flaig is partner at Capvis.

Advisers
Equity - Latham & Watkins (Legal); Ernst & Young (Financial due diligence, tax).

• Tweet  
• Facebook  
• LinkedIn  
• Google plus  
• Send to  

• Topics
• DACH
• Consumer
• Buyouts
• Germany
• Capvis AG
• Carlyle Group
• Buy-in/Buyout
• Latham & Watkins
• Ernst & Young