Industry Private equity Website www.lioncapital.com Founded 2004 Number of employees 65 | Total assets €4.8 billion Founder Lyndon Lea Headquarters London, United Kingdom Type of business Private ownership | |
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Products Leveraged buyouts, Growth capital Predecessor HM Capital Partners (1999–2004) Subsidiaries Weetabix Limited, John Varvatos, Lion Capital (Americas), Inc. | ||
Lion Capital LLP is a British private equity firm specialising in investments in the consumer sector. Previous and current consumer brands owned by Lion have included Weetabix, Jimmy Choo, wagamama, Kettle Foods and AllSaints.
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The firm is headquartered in London, 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.
Investment Strategy
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. While investments are first and foremost sector driven, Lion Capital focuses on companies in Europe and North America.
History
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.
The firm’s predecessor, also run by Lea and Darwent, was launched in 1998 as the European affiliate of American private equity firm Hicks Muse Tate & Furst (now HM Capital). Lea and Darwent separated the European affiliate from its ailing American parent, launching Lion Capital as an independent private equity firm.
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.
Investments
Lion Capital's portfolio has included some of the world's best known consumer brands. Among the firm's most notable investments are: