Month: December 2015

Intera’s new address as of 1 January 2016 is Keskuskatu 1a, 00100 Helsinki

The leading Nordic plastic household company Orthex Group has been acquired by Finnish Private Equity firm, Sponsor Capital together with Orthex’ Management. Intera Fund I exited Orthex on December 21, 2015.

Intera invested in Orthex, Finland’s leading manufacturer of plastic household products, in 2009. Soon after Intera invested in Orthex, group was expanded in Nordics by acquiring Swedish household companies, Sveico and Hammarplast. During Intera’s ownership, the company sales grew organically and via acquisitions from 12 million to approx. 60 million euros.

Today Orthex is the leading manufacturer and marketer of plastic household products in the Nordics. Orthex manufactures over 85% of its products locally in its three factories in Finland and Sweden. The key advantages of Orthex’ products are product safety, high quality and an excellent combination of functionality and design. During the past five years the company has rapidly developed from three local companies into a sizeable international group that delivers products to over 40 countries around the world. Orthex sells products in five different product categories: Storage, Kitchen, Children, Home&Yard and Garden products under three strong brands: Orthex, SmartStore and Gastromax.

Orthex CEO Alexander Rosenlew who together with his management team has transformed Orthex Group into a market leader with a great potential for future growth will continue in his role as CEO. The change in ownership starts a new era in the company and the whole management team is eager to achieve the ambitious targets set together with the new owner. Alexander Rosenlew says “Our proven strategy is to serve all our customers and consumers better every day. Furthermore, we have a strong growth potential on big European markets such as Germany, France and the UK where Nordic design, quality and product safety are highly appreciated.”

“We want to thank Orthex CEO Alexander Rosenlew and the whole Management Team for their hard work and commitment to building Orthex Group to a leading manufacturer and marketer of household products in the Nordic region”, says Janne Näränen from Intera Partners. “Orthex is well-positioned to continue to grow both in the Nordics as well as in international markets under the new majority owner”, Näränen continues.

Sponsor Capital is excited to start working with Orthex, which has a strong Nordic market position and very committed and skilled employees. “A superior customer service and innovative concepts combined with a strong management and efficient operations provide a solid base for profitable growth”, says Juuso Kivinen from Sponsor Capital. “We are delighted to support Orthex in its next development phase”, continues Kivinen.

For further information, please contact:
Intera Partners Oy, Janne Näränen, Partner, tel: +358 50 566 4869
janne.naranen@interapartners.fi

Orthex Group
Develops, produces and markets functional household products to customers and consumers. The offering is based on appealing and innovative concepts, responsibly produced mass market products of high quality and strong brands. Today Orthex Group is the leading Nordic producer of household products that make everyday life easier. The company has a strong tradition of manufacturing and marketing household products since 1914. The products are sold to consumers through most of the major retail chains and discount stores in the Nordic countries and in some 40 different countries worldwide. Total turnover in 2015 is approx. M€ 60 and the number of employees is approx. 300.

In connection to Consti Yhtiöt Oy’s successful initial public offering on the main list of NASDAQ Helsinki Stock Exchange and related share sale on December 11, 2015, Intera Fund I Ky has sold a majority of its ownership in Consti to institutional and retail buyers.

The initial public offering marks an important milestone for rapidly growing Consti, which was established in 2008 by Intera together with the leading entrepreneurs of the industry. Since its founding, Consti has grown to become the one of the leading companies focusing on renovation and technical services in Finland) by implementing a buy & build –acquisition strategy and investing significantly in recruitments and organic growth.

The starting point for Consti was the industrial vision developed by Intera’s senior advisor Erkki Norvio in 2007. During the early planning, the market opportunity in renovation construction was identified, and the initial business plan for Consti was created. The original investment thesis about capturing the fundamental volume growth opportunity by creation of a new multi-disciplined specialist and market leader still holds to date.

The execution of Consti’s buy and build -business plan started by acquiring Koja Tekniikka, the first of the three platform pillars in August 2008. Koja formed the core of Consti’s technical building systems division and the platform creation was continued by acquisitions of Raita and JRH in the following year to add the building facades and general renovation –business units to Consti. These acquisitions were then complemented with 11 add-on acquisitions by early 2011. Vast majority of the entrepreneurs who joined Consti continued in managerial roles in the newly established group.

After the IPO, Intera continues as the single largest shareholder (ca. 12%) for Consti. Erkki Norvio and Janne Näränen will continue in their board member roles in Consti.