New investor opens up global possibilities for Polish hygiene tissue producer
Partners Group, a leading global private markets firm, acting on behalf of its clients, has agreed to acquire Velvet CARE, Central Europe’s fastest-growing consumer tissue producer, from Abris Capital Partners and plans to build value through initiatives including expansion in Central Europe and beyond.
Velvet CARE is one of the largest manufacturers of hygiene tissue products in Central Europe, with more than 850 employees in Poland and Czechia.
Since 1996, Partners Group has invested USD 200 billion in private equity, private real estate, private debt and private infrastructure on behalf of its clients globally. The firm employs more than 1,800 diverse professionals across 20 offices worldwide and has regional headquarters in Baar-Zug, Switzerland; Denver, USA; and Singapore. It has been listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange since 2006.
Velvet CARE divestment by Abris Capital Partners takes place after five years of dynamic growth. Factors driving the growth include investment in production technology, infrastructure and automation, which allowed a significant increase in the scale of production, making Velvet CARE the industry leader in sustainable growth.
In 2020 Velvet CARE acquired Moracell, Czechia’s largest producer of toilet paper and paper towels, giving the group a strong position on the Czech market, an experienced team and new prospects in Czechia and Slovakia. Further investments in production in Poland and Czechia have strengthened Velvet CARE’s position as the industry leader in Central Europe.
“Our close working relationship with Abris over the past five years has allowed us to significantly strengthen our market position,” said Velvet CARE CEO Artur Pielak. “During this time Velvet CARE has grown stronger, going far beyond our initial ambitions. The management team and I can’t wait to begin working with Partners Group and continuing our mission of building a European leader in this sector. This is yet another era of new possibilities for us and we plan to accelerate our growth, actively participating in the further consolidation of the paper market and seeking opportunities to expand, including Central Europe and beyond.”
“Velvet CARE has a diversified product portfolio and a strong market position in its core markets,” said Ralph Schuck, Managing Director, Private Equity Goods & Products Industry Vertical, at Partners Group. “The Company differentiates itself through its superior production capabilities, best-in-class technology and deep relationships with retailers across multiple countries. We see Velvet CARE as a platform for further growth in Europe and look forward to working with the management team on our transformational value creation plan.”
Velvet CARE received B Corp certification, the globally recognised accreditation for businesses that demonstrate the highest standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability, this year. Companies that are part of the B Corp community make commitments to uphold those priorities in their business model and work for profit, people, and planet at the same time. Earlier this year Velvet CARE also earned a Gold Medal from EcoVadis, the world’s largest provider of business sustainability ratings.
“We are delighted to have had such a successful partnership with Velvet CARE’s management team, supporting the company’s expansion in Central Europe and beyond,” said Tomasz Kujawa, Investment Director at Abris. “During our investment, we have focused on transforming the business into a leading regional, vertically integrated player, capitalising on the growing demand for personal care and hygiene products, as well as expanding the company’s export business, tapping into neighbouring markets, and integrating the highest ESG standards based on our ESG value creation methodology.”
Velvet CARE’s products include toilet paper, paper towels, paper tissues and moist toilet paper. Its Velvet brand has enjoyed great popularity in Poland for the past 26 years, and the company also produces for private labels. Velvet CARE has two factories, in Klucze, Poland and Žabčice, Czechia, and sells its products on more than 30 markets, mainly in Europe
RELATED NEWS
