IFC Advisory’s Post

MHK Group AG remains on course and records the strongest #growth in membership within a year since its foundation! The figures for the 2023 financial year and the substantial investments in the company's economy were presented yesterday at the media conference in Frankfurt am Main. ▶️ With 356 new shareholders, MHK Group AG now has 4,233 members from the specialist kitchen retail and trade sectors. ▶️ The 9% #growth in #membership has also laid the foundation for the resilient sales result in 2023. Despite the poor economic situation in Germany and Europe, the Group was able to keep the result at the zero line (-0.68%, €9.661 billion), once again demonstrating its #stability as a leading European buying group in this sector in 2023. ▶️ The own #brands and private #labels once again proved to be important building blocks for success. Their importance becomes clear when looking at sales. Around two thirds of sales in the kitchen segment are generated by the five own brands #Designo, #elementa, #neola, #selektiv and #xeno. The first concept to be launched on the market, elementa, has been a truly unique selling point in the specialised trade for 25 years now. The MHK franchise system REDDY Küchen, which is also very popular in Belgium and Holland, is also celebrating its birthday this year. As a counterpart to the German retail brand "musterhaus küchen", the "MHK Kitchen Specialist" in Austria and Switzerland and the "MHK Keukenexpert" and "MHK Kitchen Experts" in Belgium, the UK, the Netherlands and Spain ensure greater visibility for partners both online and locally. ▶️ Cloud-based ERP solution: CARAT kitchenstox MHK Group AG continues to drive #digitalisation in the kitchen retail sector. A year ago, CARAT and the Berlin-based company ametras GmbH, which specialises in ERP solutions, pooled their expertise and founded a joint venture under the name athenix. The result: CARAT kitchenstox. The 100 per cent cloud-based ERP solution maps the entire commercial process from initial customer contact to delivery and is fully integrated into the CARAT planning software. CARAT #kitchenstox is currently available in Germany and Austria, but will also be successively introduced in other European countries. #mhk #mhkgroup #businssyear2023 #strongtogether

📢 Warpaint London PLC AGM Update 📢 Warpaint London plc (AIM: W7L; OTCQX: WPNTF), the specialist supplier of colour cosmetics and owner of the W7 and Technic brands, is pleased to share an update from today's Annual General Meeting. Chairman Clive Garston’s Statement: 💄 "The Group continues to trade #strongly with #sales for the six months to 30 June 2024 expected to be approximately £46 million (compared to £36.7 million for the same period in 2023). Our #margins remain #robust and are ahead of those achieved in 2023. Consistent with previous years, sales are anticipated to be second half weighted due to #Christmas gifting orders and the Group's momentum. 🌍 We are making significant strides in expanding our presence in larger #retailers #globally, with ample opportunities for further growth with both new and existing customers. The Group has several planned product rollouts to additional stores in the second half of the year and is actively discussing stocking our products with multiple #UK and overseas retailers. 💸 As previously announced, pending shareholder approval at today's AGM, a final #dividend of 6.0 pence per share will be paid on 5 July 2024 to #shareholders on the register at 14 June 2024." Note: All figures in this announcement are unaudited. #WarpaintLondon #AGM #FinancialUpdate #Growth #Dividends #InvestorRelations #W7 #Technic 💅📈 Warpaint Cosmetics Adam Kay Shore Capital Partners Daniel Bush Patrick Castle Fiona Conroy Tim Metcalfe Florence Chandler

Pivoting: The Art of Survival? Yesterday, I spoke with @lauraalderman at STV News about the current challenges facing the retail industry and the reasons behind closing our beautiful Stockbridge store. Yes this decision was incredibly tough, but given the challenging retail environment, it’s a necessary step to ensure the future of Beira. A myriad of factors contributed to this closure, including the relentless cost of living crisis, soaring business expenses, supplier disruptions, and substantial rate hikes. Recently, we’ve also seen a significant 55% decline in foot traffic, coupled with the daunting prospect of our rent almost doubling – collectively, these challenges have become insurmountable. We've chosen to pivot our strategy and close our physical store, marking a poignant moment in our journey. This transformative shift is driven by a dual purpose: preserving the integrity of the Beira brand and realigning with dynamic market trends. I want to express immense gratitude to our incredible staff members over the years and customers who supported us in our store. While this chapter closes, exciting plans lie ahead for Beira. I’m eager to share them with you soon. It’s important to share this experience, knowing we’re not alone. As my recent The Herald Scotland article shows, many female entrepreneurs face similar challenges, and together, we can navigate this evolving landscape. Notable figures like Carolyn Currie.carolyn, CE of WES, and entrepreneurs @Claire Mcloughlin, Sarah Stanger of @_six_acres, and Anna Cornwell of @mardybumactiveclub, share their experiences. Beira's own journey reflects these challenges, with the decision to close our physical store signaling a strategic shift towards sustainability and growth. The High Streets south of the border have 75% reduction in rates whilst here in Scotland many actually had an increase. Essentially we need urgent policy reforms and financial support are essential to ensure the survival of women-led businesses and preserve the vibrancy of British high streets. #FemaleEntrepreneurs #EconomicResilience #WhoMadeMyClothes #EthicalFashion #SustainableFashion #ConsciousFashion #EthicallyMade #SustainableDesign #SlowFashion #SustainableStyle #ConsciousConsumer #SustainableLiving #Sustainable #CircularEconomy #SustainableClothing #FairFashion #SmallBusiness #Scotland #TheHerald #Herald Read more in my @Herald article: [Positive change: women in business can win](https://lnkd.in/eadSr8_T)

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐩 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐬 𝐔.𝐒. 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐦𝐢𝐝 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐬 The Body Shop, a UK-based cosmetics brand known for its ethical beauty products, announced the cessation of its U.S. operations and the imminent closure of several Canadian outlets. Facing bankruptcy due to high inflation and challenges in the retail sector, particularly for mall-based stores targeting the middle class, the company has begun restructuring. The Body Shop Canada, with 105 stores nationwide, filed for a Notice of Intention to Make a Proposal under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, seeking to reevaluate its strategy and implement restructuring initiatives. Despite these changes, 105 Canadian stores remain open, though 33 will soon close, marking a significant shift for the brand acquired by AURELIUS GROUP in December 2023. #finance #news #TheBodyShop #retailcrisis #CanadaUSoperations Source:- https://lnkd.in/dCEnTHbU

Kellerhals Carrard advised Thömus AG – from Oberried, near Bern – which is taking over 12 ‘Bike World’ branches and their employees from Migros. The locations will be redesigned and will reopen under the name ‘Thömus Bike World’ on March 1, 2025. Kellerhals Carrard is accompanying the buyer in the transaction and implementation with a team led by partner Thomas Bähler (pictured left) and counsel Kathrin Enderli (pictured right). Read the full article >> https://lnkd.in/eeM3uJuK #Legalcommunitych #legaladvisor #acquisition

Thai retailer Central Group has successfully acquired the remaining assets of Germany's iconic KaDeWe Group. This acquisition includes the renowned department stores: #KaDeWe in Berlin, #Alsterhaus in Hamburg, and #Oberpollinger in Munich. Central Group is set to continue running these prestigious outlets while negotiating new rent agreements. Central Group's acquisition ensures the ongoing operation of KaDeWe stores after the insolvency of Signa Group. The deal includes potential negotiations for lower rents due to high existing lease costs. Central Group's move signals a strong commitment to expanding its influence in luxury retail. The acquisition may pave the way for similar actions with #Globus in #Switzerland and #Selfridges in the UK. #Thailand #Germany #CentralGroup Read more: Reuters and NZZ https://lnkd.in/gvgTpChX https://lnkd.in/gwaughcY

Despite some solid announcements recently (record profit before tax of £991.4m and the acquisition of 1,169 store ‘Hibbets Sports’ in the U.S) the value of JD’s stock is suffering. Since 14th December it’s dropped from £175.15 and currently sits around £118 as I write this. JD’s is a complex business now trading in many markets (including successfully in the U.S with Finish Line, which is a rarity for a UK retail business) and also across many facias as well as a chain of gyms. Despite these challenges they have produced one of the best ESG reports we have read - transparent and well presented. CEO Regis Schultz joined in Sep 22 and led the reappraisal of the brand strategy which led to the disposal of several Fashion businesses so they now concentrate resources on fewer initiatives. Chairman Andrew Higginson took over from Peter Cowgill in July 2022. Cowgill had led the JD business for 18 yrs in a dual role of Chair and CEO. Higginson reported that the business had strong leadership and a supportive majority shareholder but had not raised standards of Governance to the expected norms of a FTSE 100 business. Non-Execs Kath Smith and Helen Ashton have been reforming and improving the Governance framework. Additionally Regis Schultz simplified the organisation structure reducing the number of direct reports to the CEO from over 30 under Peter Cowgill. #JDSports FY23: ✅ +12% growth YOY ✅ Record PBT £991.4m ✅ £550.5m costs associated with closing the S.Korea business and divesting of the non core Fashion business - adjusted PBT £440.9m ✅ Geographical revenue: UK/ROI 37.8% Europe 26.3% North America 31.1% ROW 4.8% ✅ Group Revenue by channel: Retail Stores 72.5% Multichannel 24.3% Other 3.2% ✅ Store split: Sports Fashion 92.6% Outdoor 7.4% Sports Fashion Brands:  JD, Size?, Footpatrol, FinishLine, Shoe Palace, DTLR, Livestock, Sprinter, Sport Zone, Sizeer, MIG, Cosmos Sport, JD Gyms, Mainline Outdoor Brands:  Blacks, Fishing Republic, Naylors, Tiso, Go Outdoors, Leisure Lakes Bikes, Wheelbase ✅ 58 new stores opened in Europe which included the conversion of the 23 former Chausport stores to JD fascia ✅ The first JD stores opened in Hungary, Lithuania, Greece, Cyprus and Isreal (JV) ✅ 79 JD gyms in the UK ✅ Acquired Total Swimming Holdings Ltd which includes Swim! the first multi-site operator of dedicated children’s ‘learn to swim’ centres in the UK with 10 sites ESG ✅ 98% of cotton sourced via The Better Cotton Initiative ✅ JD Group achieved: - an A- grade for Climate Change in the 2022 CDP Report - increased to A- for the period for water security, surpassing our sector average by three grades ‘A’ grade for Climate Change Supply Chain Engagement for the third successive year DEI / Employees ✅ Board Gender Diversity: 44% female ✅ 28% of senior managers are female ✅ 52% of all other employees are female ✅ JD Group won The Prince’s Trust Employment Impact Award for 2022.

OC&C Strategy Consultants 2023 #PrivateEquity & #Transactions Report - #Retail & #Leisure Abstract: "In a difficult M&A context [...], our Retail & Leisure activity has continued to flourish. We have seen some clear winning subsectors and models getting a lot of attention from investors. Those assets typically share a few common traits: -#resilience in a context of discretionary squeeze on spend -material and visible #headroom for growth -#sustainability of the business model -competitive #moat One area with a strong tailwind has been #Beauty, #Health & #Wellness. We have supported many deals in -the beauty industry: *#retail (e.g., Pinalli) *#clinics (with a few closing in 2023 such as epiLate) -the broader wellness space: *every type of consumer need, from massage chairs and sofas (e.g., Meubelzorg) to #pet wellness (e.g., Ciam or A.W.P. | Animal Wellness Products)! *wider #fitness environment (e.g., Thirdspace) and activity continues to be sustained in this sector. As part of the mega-trend of people investing in their health, we have seen a continued strong demand for #sports-related assets. We supported Castore, [...] in their flagship capital raise. And more deals are on the cusp of closing – stay tuned in early 2024! Some sectors that have been more challenged from a macro environment perspective (e.g., Fashion) have attracted investors where there are winning brands or models clearly emerging. We supported Reiss, a winning brand in the premium #fashion space, in the successful exit by Warburg Pincus – while in the premium / affordable luxury #jewellery space we have been active advising on the Georg Jensen and Monica Vinader transactions. Finally, we have a resurgence of deals in the #foodservice industry. This sector has been heavily impacted, first by covid, with months of closure and disruption, and shortly after the reopening by high-cost inflation clearly creating a challenge on margins. Nonetheless, the industry worked through those crises and some players have emerged stronger. Food inserts in the #grocery space continue to be in demand and the headroom is strong, answering retailer needs to capture more food-to-go occasions. We supported Snowfox/Yo Sushi on their successful transaction last year, and the market continues to be buoyant for other players in the space. We also see the consumer need for more affordable and convenient offerings with variety and choices driving the success of many Quick-Serve propositions. [...] Looking forward, we are increasingly confident on consumer outlook for 2024 – supported by a better than expected disposable income outlook and increasing consumer confidence (albeit off a low base). We should see more PE owners preparing for exit which should increase the number of deals on the table for next year. Now is the time to identify the space or types of assets you want to invest on [...]." 📌Link to the full report in the comments #Deals, #ManagementConsulting, #StrategyConsulting

Luxury furniture brand Stanley Lifestyles has raised a little over Rs 161 crore from anchor investors, a day before its initial share-sale. Stanley Lifestyles Click on the link below to know more... #retailnews #retailtrends #retailsector #retailindustry #retailing #retailresults #retailupdates #businessnews #retailgrowth #retailsectornews #retailindia #retailtrends #retailbusiness #ir #IndiaRetailing #IPO #shareallotment

📢This is no surprise Frasers Group and Next eye Ted Baker takeover - TheIndustry.fashion 🎯 💼 With Ted Baker's UK and European operations in administration, high street titans have emerged as potential saviours. As retail aficionados, their track records speak volumes - Frasers Group and Next are not strangers to breathing new life into faltering fashion labels. 🧐 The closure of 11 Ted Baker stores brings an air of urgency to the table. With jobs on the line and a heritage brand at stake, all eyes are on the resilience of brick-and-mortar retail. 🕒 Time is ticking with a six-week window for bids. This acquisition could mean a revitalized Ted Baker presence, keeping the high street's unique touch intact. 📊 Industry watchers, stay tuned as the next three weeks could unveil the next chapter in this iconic brand's story. Will it be Frasers Group or Next writing the headlines? Surely the brand will be saved.... #FashionRetail #TedBaker #BusinessStrategy