Electra Partners announces sale of Lil-lets

POSTED 09 October 2013

Electra Partners announces that it has agreed to sell its interest in feminine hygiene brand Lil-lets Group (“Lil-lets”) to Premier Foods (Pty) Limited, a major South African manufacturer and distributor of fast moving consumer goods. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals in South Africa.

Allowing for the process of applying for regulatory approvals, on completion Electra Private Equity PLC (“Electra”) will receive gross proceeds of £37 million. Based on the 31 March 2013 valuation of Lil-lets, this level of proceeds would imply a reduction in Electra’s diluted NAV per share of 12p. This is explained by a weakening currency in South Africa.

Lil-lets is a leading branded feminine hygiene business and offers a complete portfolio of feminine hygiene products under one brand. The business occupies market leadership positions in the UK and Africa supported by a trusted brand and an innovative approach to new product development, for example the successful Teens range launched in 2011. Electra invested in the management buyout of Lil-lets in 2006.

Rhian Davies, Partner at Electra Partners, the manager of Electra, said:

“Lil-lets has undergone a transformation under Electra’s ownership and is now positioned as a strong brand in the UK and as a growth business in Africa. Successfully developing the African business has been a key part of the story so far and we are now pleased to see the business being acquired by Premier Foods, which will be able to accelerate Lil-lets’s African growth plans using its established distribution channels. The management team, led by Martin Frost, has worked hard to develop the business and we wish them well under new ownership.”

Martin Frost, CEO of Lil-lets, said:

“Electra Partners has been a very supportive investor, helping Lil-lets to refresh its products and brand and to turn the African business into a growth engine. We look forward to the future with confidence and to working with Premier Foods to realise the considerable growth opportunities that lie ahead of us in the UK and Africa.”

The agreement to sell Lil-lets follows the realisations of esure and Allflex earlier this year which generated a 3x and a 15x return on original cost respectively.

Electra Partners and Lil-lets’s other shareholders were advised by Neil Sutton and Julia Casey of PwC.

Electra Partners refers to Electra Partners LLP acting on behalf of Electra Private Equity PLC. 

Ends

For further information please contact:

For Rhian Davies:
Matthieu Roussellier, Greenbrook Communications  +44 (0)20 7952 2000
Andrew Kenny and Nicholas Board, Electra Partners   +44 (0)20 7306 3932