Enterprise Investors sells its stake in Sklepy Komfort
Warsaw, 20 December 2013 — Polish Enterprise Fund V (PEF V) and Polish Enterprise Fund VI (PEF VI), private equity funds managed by Enterprise Investors (EI), have sold their 100% stake in Sklepy Komfort, the Polish flooring retail chain, to Barcocapital Investment Ltd., a company controlled by Michał Sołowow, one of the wealthiest Polish entrepreneurs.
- The value of the transaction was not disclosed.
- The deal requires the approval of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection in Poland.
Sklepy Komfort manages Poland’s largest network of stores selling wall-to-wall carpets, rugs, laminate and hardwood floors as well as other interior design elements. The company was established in the early 1990s and was originally based in Szczecin. EI’s investment has strengthened the company, which now runs an extensive network of over 100 stores throughout Poland, with headquarters in Łódź and a modern logistics base with a central warehouse in Stryków. “Komfort’s strong brand recognition and leading market position have brought us an offer from a renowned and experienced investor who plans to develop the company further,” said Jacek Siwicki, president of Enterprise Investors, who is responsible for this investment.
“After completion of the transaction I plan to continue the company’s business operations and further development. Komfort will build on its competencies and offer customers multi-brand and multifunctional flooring solutions, which will become its sole focus. My aim is for Komfort to become the first choice for customers purchasing new floors,” said Michał Sołowow. “The acquisition of Komfort is not my first transaction with the former owner of this company, as we met during the merger of two major Polish tile producers, Opoczno and Cersanit. I highly appreciate Enterprise Investors’ professionalism and effectiveness in building the value of their portfolio companies. In the case of Sklepy Komfort, the quality of organization achieved during EI’s investment period had a significant impact on my interest in the project,” he added.
Enterprise Investors is one of the largest private equity and venture capital firms in Central and Eastern Europe. Active since 1990, the firm has raised eight funds with total capital exceeding EUR 2 billion. To date the funds have invested EUR 1.6 billion in 131 companies across a range of sectors and exited 104 companies with total gross proceeds of EUR 2.1 billion.
For further information please contact:
Jacek Siwicki, President
Anna Czywczyńska, Public Relations Consultant
Tel. +48 22 458 8500