MEDIA RELEASE
23 February 2017
IFM Investors invests in leading fashion handbag and accessories retailer Colette by Colette Hayman
IFM Investors’ private equity arm has made a significant minority investment in Colette by Colette Hayman, a leading fashion handbags and accessories retailer.
Announcing the investment, IFM Investors Executive Director Stuart Wardman-Browne said that IFM’s partnership with the Company’s founders and senior management would help the business continue its growth path.
“We are excited to partner with Colette as it seeks to further expand in Australia and offshore. With the strong experience of its leadership team, niche value proposition, on-trend products and proven retail nous, we believe Colette is well positioned to execute on its next phase of growth.”
Colette was founded in 2010 by Mark and Colette Hayman and has grown quickly to a network of over 130 company owned stores across Australia and New Zealand. It also has several franchise locations across South Africa and the Middle East.
Mark Hayman, Colette by Colette Hayman Chief Executive Officer commented that “the partnership with IFM represents an exciting development for us as we embark on our next phase of growth in Australasia and internationally. We look forward to working closely with IFM to realise our vision for the Colette by Colette Hayman brand.”
IFM Investors has a well-established presence in private equity and provides institutional investors with a flexible and transparent platform to access private equity investments. Its private equity model benefits investee companies through an openness to taking minority or majority stakes, flexible investment horizons, and the ability to continue committing follow-on capital as required for growth.
“This transaction is a perfect example of how our private equity approach can benefit companies through long-term investment coupled with a partnership style approach including pro-active support on strategic initiatives to help the continued growth of the business. It also benefits our investors as they have greater involvement in, and transparency of, their private equity investment,” added Wardman-Browne.
IFM Investors’ private equity team seeks to invest in growing businesses in Australia and New Zealand with a value of between $50-300 million. This transaction follows the acquisition of 50% of leading contractor group ISGM in June.
Miles Advisory Partners acted as financial advisers to Colette by Colette Hayman on the transaction.