Vendis/Camera Express
The investor
Vendis Capital is an investor that is fully committed to consumer goods, primarily wholesale and retail. The company has its roots in Belgium, but is now active throughout Europe and even globally in some areas.
The portfolio company
In March 2018, Vendis acquired a majority stake in Kamera Express, an omnichannel photo and video specialist based in the Netherlands. The company has an extensive network of large stores in the Netherlands and Belgium, as well as a strong online presence in more than ten European countries. In addition to organic growth through the opening of new stores, one of the goals of the growth strategy was to acquire market competitors and thereby become the leading specialist retailer in the industry in Europe.
The project – Buy-and-built
As the most important market in Europe, Germany was at the top of the wish list for acquisitions in order to gain access to this attractive market. WESTFALENFINANZ was commissioned to initiate exploratory talks with attractive local partners and to accompany the subsequent process on the buyer's side.
The process
After intensive market research, attractive target companies were identified and contact was established with the owners. Following numerous discussions, mutual interest and the good fit with the Foto Gregor Group became apparent. After signing a letter of intent and completing due diligence, Kamera Express was able to confirm and further expand its clear market leadership in Europe with this acquisition in Germany.
