Hobbs

Hobbs is a design-led manufacturer and retailer of ladies clothes, shoes and accessories.

Hobbs offers its clientele a ‘capsule wardrobe’, where each component (garments, shoes and accessories) forms a perfect match with the others. Hobbs designs are well known for their contemporary style, quality, cut and material.

VALUE CREATION

Guided by Managing Director Nick Samuel, Hobbs has grown in the last two years from trading in 34 to over 60 outlets and now employs approximately 1,000 staff. Pre-tax profits doubled in the year to January 2004 to more than €13m.

THE EXIT

Following a competitive process, which received strong interest from a number of potential buyers, Equistone realised its investment via a secondary buyout with a value of €161m backed by 3i. As part of the deal, the directors of Hobbs increased their management share from 20 per cent to 37 per cent. Equistone has achieved a total return of circa five times its original investment over two years.