Partners Group to invest in leading affordable luxury brand TOUS to support global growth strategy
Press release
Baar-Zug, Switzerland, 13 July 2015
Partners Group, the global private markets investment manager, has agreed to invest in leading jewelry and accessories brand TOUS on behalf of its clients. Partners Group will work closely with the company, which remains majority-owned by its founding family, to accelerate its international growth plan. Partners Group will have a 25% stake in TOUS' equity once the investment has closed, which is expected later this year.
TOUS is a global brand leader in the affordable luxury sector, with nearly 500 retail outlets on five continents. Founded in 1920 by the Tous family in Manresa (Barcelona), Spain, the company's heritage is in jewelry, although in recent years TOUS has successfully expanded its product range to become a lifestyle brand offering watches, leather goods, fragrances, eyewear and accessories. In 2014, TOUS grew by over 10% to generate EUR 371 million of sales and was ranked by Interbrand as one of Europe's 50 most valuable retail brands.
Partners Group will work in close partnership with the Tous family to support the business during its next stage of growth, in which the main focus will be on building out its international presence – particularly in key markets like the US and China – utilizing Partners Group's global network and consumer goods industry expertise. Further initiatives will include the development of new distribution channels for the company, the strengthening of its e-commerce platform, and the streamlining of internal processes with a focus on operational excellence.
Alba Tous, President of TOUS, comments: "We are convinced that welcoming a strategic investment partner is the right decision at this stage in TOUS' development in order to successfully fulfill our ambitious strategic goals for our company. We were looking for a global partner that could bring its international management and business development experience to bear on our company, and we are confident we have found it in Partners Group. We have found that they perfectly understand our philosophy as a company, who we are and where we want to go."
Andrew Deakin, Managing Director, Private Equity at Partners Group, will join the Board of TOUS once the transaction completes. He states: "We are truly excited to partner with the Tous family and broader TOUS management team as the company embarks upon this next stage of international growth. TOUS is an exceptional brand with a distinguished heritage, a strong focus on the consumer, and a highly desirable product range balancing craftsmanship and technology. We look forward to working closely with its passionate and engaged management team in the years to come."
About Partners Group
Partners Group is a global private markets investment management firm with over EUR 37 billion (over USD 45 billion) in investment programs under management in private equity, private real estate, private infrastructure and private debt. The firm manages a broad range of customized portfolios for an international clientele of institutional investors. Partners Group is headquartered in Zug, Switzerland and has offices in San Francisco, Houston, New York, São Paulo, London, Guernsey, Paris, Luxembourg, Milan, Munich, Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore, Shanghai, Seoul, Tokyo and Sydney. The firm employs over 750 people and is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (symbol: PGHN) with a major ownership by its partners and employees.
Investor relations contact
Alexander von Wolffradt
Phone: +41 41 784 66 45
E-mail: [email protected]
Media relations contact
Jenny Blinch
Phone: +41 41 784 65 26
E-mail: [email protected]
Press release
Baar-Zug, Switzerland, 13 July 2015
Partners Group, the global private markets investment manager, has agreed to invest in leading jewelry and accessories brand TOUS on behalf of its clients. Partners Group will work closely with the company, which remains majority-owned by its founding family, to accelerate its international growth plan. Partners Group will have a 25% stake in TOUS' equity once the investment has closed, which is expected later this year.
TOUS is a global brand leader in the affordable luxury sector, with nearly 500 retail outlets on five continents. Founded in 1920 by the Tous family in Manresa (Barcelona), Spain, the company's heritage is in jewelry, although in recent years TOUS has successfully expanded its product range to become a lifestyle brand offering watches, leather goods, fragrances, eyewear and accessories. In 2014, TOUS grew by over 10% to generate EUR 371 million of sales and was ranked by Interbrand as one of Europe's 50 most valuable retail brands.
Partners Group will work in close partnership with the Tous family to support the business during its next stage of growth, in which the main focus will be on building out its international presence – particularly in key markets like the US and China – utilizing Partners Group's global network and consumer goods industry expertise. Further initiatives will include the development of new distribution channels for the company, the strengthening of its e-commerce platform, and the streamlining of internal processes with a focus on operational excellence.
Alba Tous, President of TOUS, comments: "We are convinced that welcoming a strategic investment partner is the right decision at this stage in TOUS' development in order to successfully fulfill our ambitious strategic goals for our company. We were looking for a global partner that could bring its international management and business development experience to bear on our company, and we are confident we have found it in Partners Group. We have found that they perfectly understand our philosophy as a company, who we are and where we want to go."
Andrew Deakin, Managing Director, Private Equity at Partners Group, will join the Board of TOUS once the transaction completes. He states: "We are truly excited to partner with the Tous family and broader TOUS management team as the company embarks upon this next stage of international growth. TOUS is an exceptional brand with a distinguished heritage, a strong focus on the consumer, and a highly desirable product range balancing craftsmanship and technology. We look forward to working closely with its passionate and engaged management team in the years to come."
About Partners Group
Partners Group is a global private markets investment management firm with over EUR 37 billion (over USD 45 billion) in investment programs under management in private equity, private real estate, private infrastructure and private debt. The firm manages a broad range of customized portfolios for an international clientele of institutional investors. Partners Group is headquartered in Zug, Switzerland and has offices in San Francisco, Houston, New York, São Paulo, London, Guernsey, Paris, Luxembourg, Milan, Munich, Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore, Shanghai, Seoul, Tokyo and Sydney. The firm employs over 750 people and is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (symbol: PGHN) with a major ownership by its partners and employees.
Investor relations contact
Alexander von Wolffradt
Phone: +41 41 784 66 45
E-mail: [email protected]
Media relations contact
Jenny Blinch
Phone: +41 41 784 65 26
E-mail: [email protected]