IK sells the Dutch internet retailer Wehkamp
IK Investment Partners (“IK”, formerly known as Industri Kapital) has sold Wehkamp, the market leader in online shopping in the Netherlands, to a group of private investors. IK will retain a minority interest in Wehkamp.
IK acquired Wehkamp, together with the credit management company Transfair from the UK retailer GUS plc in January 2006 with the plan to further grow and develop both businesses and capitalise on IK’s experience in the home shopping, consumer credit and debt collection markets.
Under IK’s ownership Wehkamp has been further transformed into a leading online retailer. At the time of IK’s investment, Wehkamp’s sales were in decline. With the introduction of IK’s growth plan this was turned into an average growth rate of over 5% per annum and operating profits have doubled. The business continues to be driven by the strong growth in online retailing. Wehkamp has grown into the largest and most highly rated online retailer in the Netherlands.
Wehkamp trades under wehkamp.nl and has been reorganised into three distinctive online stores: fashion, living and electronics with a significantly enhanced product range. The website has been completely redesigned with an up-to-date, user-friendly appearance based on Wehkamp’s specific brand values. Wehkamp.nl has more than 5 million visitors per month including 1.3 million returning customers and completes about 5 million orders every year. The product range includes some 55,000 items.
The financial services offering to Wehkamp's customers and other clients have been transferred to a separate group company, Lacent. With a strengthened management team, the company has grown its consumer loan portfolio. Future growth is expected from products currently in development. Lacent is being sold as part of this transaction.
In line with the strategy set out at the beginning of the investment Wehkamp sold Transfair, its credit management subsidiary, to Lindorff, a European credit management company in 2007.
Kristiaan Nieuwenburg, Partner at IK commented: “Wehkamp has been a very profitable investment for IK. The transformation of Wehkamp demonstrates IK’s ability to accelerate growth and implement structural operational improvements in our portfolio companies. Wehkamp is now ready for the next phase in its development.”
Paul Nijhof, CEO RFS Holland Holding commented: “With the support of IK Investment Partners we have been able to reshape the organisation. At this point in time wehkamp.nl is well positioned to capture the growth potential in the online market in the years to come. This is a natural time for a change in ownership structure.”
The investor group consists of Mr. Ad Scheepbouwer, a Supervisory Board member and current minority shareholder in RFS, and Wehkamp’s incumbent management team, Mr. Paul Nijhof and Mr. Berend van der Maat. The investor group will acquire RFS Holland Holding B.V., the holding company of Wehkamp.
There will be no changes to the management team and Mr. Ad Scheepbouwer will continue his role as Supervisory Board member. Rabobank will act as financier.
Mr. Leon van den Boom, a current member of RFS's Supervisory Board will succeed Mr. Kristiaan Nieuwenburg as Chairman of RFS's Supervisory Board. Mr. Kristiaan Nieuwenburg will remain a Board member.
The trade unions have been informed of the transaction and the works council has given its approval.
For further information, please contact:
Kristiaan Nieuwenburg, Partner at IK
+44 20 7304 4300
Charlotte Laveson, Communications Manager at IK
+46 8 678 95 51
Paul Nijhof, Chairman of the Executive Board, RFS Holland Holding B.V. and Wehkamp B.V.
+ 31 384973457
NOTES TO EDITORS