Lion Capital LLP
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Lion Capital LLP is a British
private equity firm A private equity firm or private equity company (often described as a financial sponsor) is an investment management company that provides financial backing and makes investments in the private equity of a Startup company, startup or of an existin ...
specialising in investments in the
consumer sector One classical breakdown of economic activity distinguishes three sectors: * Primary: involves the retrieval and production of raw materials, such as corn, coal, wood or iron. Miners, farmers and fishermen are all workers in the primary sect ...
. Previous and current consumer brands owned by Lion have included
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,
Jimmy Choo Jimmy Choo Yeang Keat (born 15 November 1948) is a Malaysian fashion designer based in the United Kingdom. He co-founded Jimmy Choo Ltd, which became known for its handmade women's shoes. Early life Choo was born in 1948 in the Crown Colony ...
,
Wagamama Wagamama Limited (stylised as ''wagamama)'' is a British restaurant chain. The brand is inspired by fast-paced, Japanese ramen bars and offers a celebration of Asian food. History Wagamama Limited was incorporated on 29 April 1991 as China Di ...
,
Kettle Foods Kettle Foods, Inc. is an American manufacturer of potato chips, based in Salem, Oregon, United States, with a European and Middle East headquarters in Norwich, United Kingdom. As of 2006 they were the largest natural potato chip brand in the U.S. ...
and AllSaints. The firm is headquartered in
London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
, England, and employs 30 investment executives across its London and Los Angeles offices. The firm’s principals have invested approximately €6 billion in more than 30 businesses and more than 100 consumer brands.


History

The firm’s predecessor was launched in 1998 as the European affiliate of American private equity firm Hicks Muse Tate & Furst (now HM Capital).
Lyndon Lea Lyndon Lea (born 13 January 1969) is an English financier and investor, known for co-founding Lion Capital which specializes in making investments in the consumer sector. Notable previous and current consumer brands owned by Lion have include ...
and Robert Darwent separated the European affiliate from its ailing American parent, launching Lion Capital as an independent private equity firm. Lion Capital was founded in 2004 by Lyndon Lea, Robert Darwent and Neil Richardson with the goal of creating the leading investment firm focused on the consumer sector. In 2004, Lion Capital completed fundraising for its first private equity fund, Lion Capital Fund I, with commitments from institutional investors of €820 million. Over thirty institutions committed capital to Fund I. In April 2007, Lion Capital established a North American presence, opening an office in New York. That same year, Lion Capital raised its second private equity fund, Lion Capital Fund II, with approximately €2.0 billion of investor commitments. In 2010, Lion Capital formed its third private equity fund, Lion Capital Fund III, which ultimately included capital commitments of €1.5 billion. In October 2012, the North American office was relocated from New York to Los Angeles. In May 2016, it was announced that Javier Ferrán will replace Franz Humer as Chairman of
Diageo Diageo plc ( ) is a British Multinational corporation, multinational alcoholic beverage company, with its headquarters in London, England. It is a major distributor of Scotch whisky and other spirits and operates from 132 sites around the world ...
as of 1 January 2017 In November 2018, Lion Capital and Serruya Private Equity teamed up to acquire the Global Franchise Group ( Great American Cookies,
Round Table Pizza Round Table Pizza is a Restaurant chain, chain and Franchising, franchise of pizza parlors in the Western United States. The first Round Table Pizza restaurant was opened in 1959, and the company has over 400 restaurants. The company is headquarte ...
, Marble Slab Creamery, Pretzelmaker, MaggieMoo's Ice Cream and Treatery, and Hot Dog on a Stick) from Levine Leichtman Capital Partners. In February 2019, Lion Capital acquired the DMC Group (needlecrafts manufacturers DMC, Wool and the Gang, Sirdar, Tilsatec) from BlueGem Capital. During the summer of 2019, Lion Capital reduced its participation in Authentic Brands Group to make room for
BlackRock BlackRock, Inc. is an American Multinational corporation, multinational investment company. Founded in 1988, initially as an enterprise risk management and fixed income institutional asset manager, BlackRock is the world's largest asset manager ...
's majority-shareholding move.


Activities

Lion Capital seeks to invest in mid and large-sized companies selling branded products, including apparel, accessories and luxury goods, food distribution and specialty retail. Lion Capital’s directors have resisted diversification into other sectors, claiming that their strategy is to know more about less. Lion Capital’s team draws on its investing and operating expertise to identify consumer brands with growth potential and implement value creating strategies within these businesses, often through geographic expansion, category extension, product innovation or operating improvements. Lion Capital focuses on companies in Europe and North America. On June 26, 2019, Chloe Sorvino, a reporter from
Forbes ''Forbes'' () is an American business magazine founded by B. C. Forbes in 1917. It has been owned by the Hong Kong–based investment group Integrated Whale Media Investments since 2014. Its chairman and editor-in-chief is Steve Forbes. The co ...
magazine, reported that Lion Capital will invest $ 100 million in Gordon Ramsay Holdings Limited, to open 100 restaurants in the
United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
by the year 2024. Lion Capital's portfolio has included some of the world's best known consumer brands:


See also

*
Lyndon Lea Lyndon Lea (born 13 January 1969) is an English financier and investor, known for co-founding Lion Capital which specializes in making investments in the consumer sector. Notable previous and current consumer brands owned by Lion have include ...
* Hicks Muse Tate & Furst


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Lion Capital Llp Private equity firms of the United Kingdom Financial services companies established in 2004 Financial services companies based in London