Leading Swiss private equity firm Capvis acquires hessnatur
Zurich, June 1, 2012. Capvis, the leading private equity firm in Switzerland, has acquired hessnatur based in Butzbach, near Frankfurt am Main, Germany from its previous owner Primondo Specialty Group GmbH. The parties involved have agreed not to disclose the purchase price. The acquisition is subject to approval by antitrust authorities.
Founded in 1976, hessnatur is a pioneer in natural clothing and focuses on designing and distributing organic and sustainable apparel and home textiles. The company is the market leader in natural clothing throughout German-speaking Europe and is recognized internationally for its commitment to the highest social standards and fair trade.
Today, hessnatur has more than 330 employees and distributes its products through catalogues, three retail stores and an online shop. Apart from Germany, Austria and Switzerland, hessnatur’s products are also available in the USA. With a customer base of one million, the company achieved a turnover of EUR 73 million in the 2011 financial year.
Daniel Flaig, a partner at Capvis Equity Partners AG, comments: “As a market leader in its segment, hessnatur fits perfectly into the Capvis portfolio. We are delighted and proud to partner with hessnatur as we are convinced by the growing demand for responsible consumption, particularly in eco fashion and home textiles. We have the utmost respect for the vision created and lived by hessnatur’s founder, Heinz Hess. We look forward to working with the company’s employees and management in Butzbach and growing the business whilst preserving its very specific identity and values. This will give hessnatur the necessary continuity and stability to take the next step in its successful corporate history.”
For further information, please contact:
Richterich & Partner AG
Domenico Truncellito / Claudine Birbaum
Seestrasse 25
8702 Zollikon
Tel. +41 43 499 50 00
Email: capvis@richterich-partner.ch
Capvis Equity Partners AG
Ursula Furrer
Talacker 42
8022 Zürich
Tel. +41 43 300 58 58
Email: ursula.furrer@capvis.com
About Capvis
Capvis leads its field in Switzerland and is one of the most active private equity houses in German-speaking Europe. Holding a current fund volume of EUR 600 million, Capvis invests mainly in leading medium-sized companies. Together with the management, the company aims to tap sustainable business potential and turn companies into success stories. Since 1990, the Capvis team has closed 41 transactions of total volume exceeding EUR 3 billion. Capvis has floated nine companies on the stock market and has repeatedly been voted Switzerland’s best private equity company by the international financial press.
About hessnatur
hessnatur is a pioneer in natural clothing and a leading provider of sustainable apparel and home textiles in German-speaking Europe. The company is internationally recognized for its commitment to the highest social standards and fair trade. Today, hessnatur has more than 330 employees and distributes its products through catalogues, three retail stores and an online shop. Apart from Germany, Austria and Switzerland, hessnatur’s products are also available in the USA.