Portfolio
Soya Concept A/S
| Investment type | Growth Capital |
|---|---|
| Region | Denmark |
| Status | Current investment |
Nature of Business
Founded in 2002 by Thomas Viller, Torben Brodersen and Viggo Jensen, Soyaconcept sells fashionable, yet value-for-money women’s clothing to more than 1,000 independent clothing retailers across Scandinavia, the Benelux region and Germany. Its target audience is fashion-conscious women in the 25-40 age bracket. The Sønderborg-based business produces nine clothing collections a year.
Investment Overview
In July 2008, 3i acquired a 45% shareholding in Soyaconcept in a deal designed to facilitate a smooth generation shift following the retirement of one of the three founding shareholders.
Since our investment we have introduced Gustaf Öhrn, the former CEO of J.Lindeberg as Chairman. Öhrn has also held senior management positions at H&M and is currently a board member of Acne Jeans and CEO of Stadium (Sweden). We have also strengthened the management team through the recruitment of a high-calibre CFO.
Soyaconcept will leverage our global network and 3i’s fashion expertise from our successful investments in retail businesses such as Hobbs, Gant and Pepe Jeans. Our aim is to support an accelerated international expansion plan and to professionalise the organisation further.
