Investment in leading design company Alessi

RNS Number : 4808K

Oakley Capital Investments Limited

29 August 2019

 

29 August 2019

Oakley Capital Investments Limited

Investment in leading design company Alessi

Oakley Capital Investments Limited¹ (the "Company" or "OCI") is pleased to announce that Oakley Capital Private Equity III ("Fund III")² has completed an investment in Alessi S.p.A ("Alessi"), the Italian high-end design business focussed on homeware products.

Alessi is an iconic homeware brand with 100 years of heritage; working with some of the world's leading architects and designers it has captured a global audience and developed a well-established, premium position in the market. The Alessi Juicy Salif Lemon Squeezer (designed by Philippe Starck) and Anna G Corkscrew (designed by Alessandro Mendini) are some of the most recognised homeware products in the world, with millions sold since they were launched, reinventing traditional categories with their innovative designs.

Alessi was fully owned by the founding family, who have been looking to identify a partner to assist them in the development of the company. Oakley's experience in supporting family and founder-owned businesses, and its expertise in the consumer sector made it an attractive partner at this stage in Alessi's development.

Oakley's strategy will focus on further strengthening and expanding the proposition of the brand by targeting new audiences and optimising the portfolio's mix of products, pricing and distribution. In addition, Oakley brings deep expertise in marketing and shaping digital strategies for consumer-driven businesses (as seen with Parship Elite, Facile and Schülerhilfe).

OCI's indirect contribution through its interest in Fund III will be approximately £6 million. Alessi is the tenth and final platform investment in Fund III.

Peter Dubens, Managing Partner of Oakley Capital commented:

"We are delighted to become an investor in such a globally renowned brand. Alessi's unique approach to design and product innovation makes it a highly attractive investment opportunity for Oakley. We are excited to partner with the Alessi family to support the business in the next phase of its development."

Alberto Alessi, President of Alessi commented:

"Two years ago, at the turn of Alessi's centenary, the family started to look for a partner able to help us adapt to the new globalised world without losing our brand strength, spirit of research and design excellence. It was not easy, but with Oakley Capital we believe we have found just that partner. A new phase of Alessi's development will start very soon."

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For further information please contact:

Oakley Capital Investments Limited

[phone]

Steven Tredget, Investor Relations

Greenbrook Communications Ltd

[phone]

Alex Jones / Matthew Goodman / Gina Bell

Liberum Capital Limited (Financial Adviser & Broker)

[phone]

Gillian Martin / Owen Matthews

Notes:

LEI Number: 213800KW6MZUK12CQ815

¹ About Oakley Capital Investments Limited ("OCI")

OCI is a Specialist Fund Segment ("SFS")  traded investment vehicle, which provides access to the Oakley Funds². It is a liquid vehicle that aims to provide capital growth and dividends to investors.

² The Oakley Funds

Oakley Capital Private Equity L.P. and its successor funds, Oakley Capital Private Equity II, Oakley Capital III and Oakley Capital IV, are unlisted focused mid-market private equity funds with the aim of providing investors with significant long-term capital appreciation. The investment strategy of the funds is to focus on buy-out opportunities in industries with the potential for growth, consolidation and performance improvement.

The Investment Adviser

Founded in 2002, Oakley Capital Limited has demonstrated the repeated ability to source attractive growth assets at attractive prices. To do this it relies on its sector and regional expertise, its ability to tackle transaction complexity and its deal-generating entrepreneur network.

Important information

Specialist Fund Segment securities are not admitted to the Official List of the Financial Conduct Authority. Therefore, the Company has not been required to satisfy the eligibility criteria for admission to listing on the Official List and is not required to comply with the Financial Conduct Authority's Listing Rules. The London Stock Exchange has not examined or approved the contents of the Prospectus.

The Specialist Fund Segment is intended for institutional, professional, professionally advised and knowledgeable investors who understand, or who have been advised of, the potential risk from investing in companies admitted to the Specialist Fund Segment.

 

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