THE NUANCE GROUP acquired by AVOLTA
Context
Dufry AG has signed an agreement to acquire 100% of The Nuance Group. This transformational operation confirms the group as the global leader in the airport retail industry, reaching a 15% worldwide market share and a combined presence in 63 countries. The strategic rationale centers on the highly complementary nature of the two portfolios, strengthening the group's positioning in key regions such as the Mediterranean, Asia, and North America. Specifically, the acquisition adds significant retail operations in strategic markets like Turkey, Malta, and mainland China, while reinforcing the group's leadership in the United States and Canada. The organization expects to generate approximately CHF 70 million in annual pre-tax cost synergies by 2016 through increased purchasing power and the integration of logistics and support functions. To fund the acquisition, the group has secured a financing package that includes CHF 1 billion in equity through a rights issue and CHF 550 million in new debt. This combination is expected to be robustly accretive to cash earnings per share starting in the 2015 financial year, creating substantial value for the group's global stakeholders.
THE NUANCE GROUP, which reported an EBITDA margin of LOGIN in 2013, is valued in this transaction at an EV/EBITDA multiple of LOGIN, representing a LOGIN to the average currently observed in the Retail & Consumer sector (11.0x).
Note that this data is based on contribution from our growing community, composed of M&A and Private Equity professionals, and has been verified by our team to ensure its accuracy.
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Target
Based in Zurich, Nuance is a prominent global travel retailer that operates an extensive network of duty-free and tax-free shops, brand boutiques, and specialized concept stores. The organization manages approximately 75,000 square meters of retail space across 66 locations in 19 countries, with a significant presence in Europe, Asia, and North America. Its diverse business model includes the operation of airport retail concessions, an inflight services division, and a wholesale and distribution branch that supports the broader travel retail sector. The company's core focus is on providing a high-quality customer experience through a wide variety of luxury and essential goods, such as perfumes, cosmetics, confectionery, and spirits, tailored to the needs of international travelers. With long-duration concession portfolios in strategic travel hubs like Switzerland, Turkey, Hong Kong, and the United States, the company serves as a pivotal player in the global airport retail industry.
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Historical Financials (CHF)
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REFERENCES
Valuation range: EV 1b - 4b CHF
Revenue range: 1b - 3b CHF
EBITDA range: 100M - 200M CHF
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Authors: verified mynth contributor (mynth data is contributed by M&A / PE professionals and systematically cross-verified with private deal documents and official press releases).
Press release: view release
Acquirer: avolta