Investment news

Partners Group, the global private markets investment manager, acted as a Mandated Lead Arranger on the mezzanine debt financing for the announced voluntary public tender offer for 100% of the shares of DOUGLAS Holding AG on behalf of its clients. Beauty Holding Three AG, a holding company, which is held indirectly through funds advised by Advent International, recently announced the decision to make a voluntary public takeover offer in an approach supported by DOUGLAS’ founding family Kreke.

With annual sales of more than EUR 3 billion, the DOUGLAS Group ranks amongst the leading European retailers. The Group’s five retail divisions – Douglas perfumeries, Thalia bookstores, Christ jewelry stores, AppelrathCüpper fashion stores and Hussel confectioneries – are among the market leaders and trendsetters in their respective sectors. The more than 24’000 employees provide a high level of service in the 1’900 specialty stores. The Kreke family and Advent International jointly want to carry forward the success story of the DOUGLAS Group, identify the company’s growth opportunities and systematically realize its potential by combining their strengths for the benefit of the Group.

René Biner, Partner and Head Private Finance at Partners Group, comments “Driven by a strong management team and its market leadership in Germany, DOUGLAS’ German core business showed strong resilience during the downturn. We are very pleased to be backing a public takeover offer of Beauty Holding Three AG, which is held indirectly through funds advised by Advent International, with mezzanine financing on behalf of our clients. We have known Advent International for many years, have worked with them on several occasions and have high respect for their proven expertise in the retail segment.”