Following the recent approval by the Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM), Ramphastos and HEMA have announced that the acquisition of HEMA has been completed.
HEMA can now “fully focus on its strategic plans for the coming years”, the company said. The aim of these strategic plans is to further drive HEMA's growth and the reduction of its debt.
Under Ramphastos' new ownership, HEMA intends to make further investments in its core markets, the Netherlands and Belgium, as well as in e-commerce and in international expansion.
HEMA's increasing number of international partnerships has already started transforming its profile from an owned-retail store chain into a brand. HEMA plans to continue its growth in this direction in the years ahead and is therefore also looking at working with additional international partners to accelerate that expansion.
HEMA is also committed to a continued mutual beneficial partnership with the Association of its Franchisees (Vereniging Aangesloten Bedrijven - VAB), with whom a new arrangement has been concluded to ensure future cooperation.
HEMA's acquisition by Ramphastos provides enhanced liquidity and headroom to facilitate the execution of its strategic plans, also reducing leverage. The strengthening of HEMA's financial position will continue to be a very important element of the strategy.
Over the past few years, HEMA has invested significantly in its brand positioning, retail formats, e-commerce channel and international store expansion, all of which have led to improved financial results. In the years ahead, HEMA, with the support of Ramphastos, aims to realise strong future growth and a further reduction of its current debt position.
RPA Perspective HEMA has 30,000 products and services, more than 750 stores in nine countries and on two continents, and more than 19,000 employees.
Following the acquisition four of the current eight directors are to leave the company in the next few months, they will not be replaced. Marketing director Adriana Hoppebrouwer, country director Netherlands Tico Schneider, logistics director Adrian Porteous and HR director Marielle de Macker will have to leave their position in the next nine months.
The company itself said this is just a "simplification of the structure" and the "adaptation is necessary to be able to operate more effectively". After the departure of the four, the management will consist of CEO Tjeerd Jegen, CFO Ivo Vliegen, international director Richard Flint and buying director Trevor Perren.
Ramphastos Investments is the investment company of Marcel Boekhoorn, a Dutch entrepreneur, which currently holds (primarily majority) interests in over 30 companies in various sectors. Marcel Boekhoorn began his career as a registeraccountant (chartered accountant) with Deloitte & Touche in 1981. In 1994, he launched his own venture capital and investment firm Ramphastos Investments, which he still leads today.
Successful investments include Bakker Bart, Telfort and High Tech Campus Eindhoven.
