Portfolio companies – Buksesnedkeren ApS

Change Capital Partners, the private equity firm specialising in retail and consumer industries, is pleased to announce that it has reached agreement to purchase Buksesnedkeren, the Danish wholesale leisurewear company that owns, designs and markets the H20 and Signal brands.

Change Capital Partners’ first investment outside the UK, Buksesnedkeren was founded in 1967 by Helle and Jens Knud Lind Hansen as a retail outlet in Copenhagen and within 5 years a manufacturing operation had been developed. The H20 sports and leisurewear brand was developed in 1982 and has expanded to include menswear, womenswear, childrenswear, outerwear and accessories. With revenue increasing year on year since its establishment, the H20 brand is one of Denmark’s market leaders and one of Northern Europe’s leading sports and leisure brands, distributed through sports retailers and department stores. The Signal brand is a re-branding of the original Buksesnedkeren brand which was developed especially for the mens and womens casualwear market. Total combined retail sales for the year are in excess of 150 million Euros.

The company is a Danish design concept grown from the Scandanavian lifestyle. High quality textiles and attention to detail combine to create an exclusive range of leisurewear clothing, both fashionable and comfortable, for the active outdoor lifestyle. Cut for fitness and fashionability, a core philosophy, these clothes are designed to inspire activity.

The company is wholly owned by the Jens Knud Lind Hansen family and they believe that the company and its fashion brands have, under the right ownership, the potential to be further developed internationally. Change Capital Partners has a unique blend of financial and sector expertise and the family and management are confident that it will be able to take the business to the next stage of its development.

Thoger Thogersen, CEO, Buksesnedkeren, said:

“The management are delighted with today’s agreement. It places Buksesnedkeren in a position to build on the enthusiastic culture of the company to develop international strategies for the brands. This is an exciting challenge for everyone at Buksesnedkeren and we look forward to it.”

Change Capital Partners has appointed Steve Petrow and Lorenzo Russo to the board of Buksesnedkeren where they will support the existing management team with their international strategy by leveraging the extensive sector network that Change Capital Partners is able to offer.

Danske Bank provided debt finance for the transaction.

Steve Petrow, Managing Director, Change Capital Partners, said today:

“We are very pleased to be investing in Buksesnedkeren. This reaffirms Change Capital Partners commitment to targeting companies with market leadership, excellent management and strong growth potential within their industry.

“We look forward to working with the management team to develop international strategy for the H20 and Signal brands and we believe that Change Capital Partners’ expertise can offer great opportunities for expansion.”

For further information please contact

Steve Petrow, Change Capital Partners    020 7808 9110
Gill Ackers / James Olley, Brunswick        020 7404 5959