Nille

  • Industry
  • Non-food retail
  • Revenue
  • NOK 750 million (2006) NOK 1,330 million (2010)
  • EBITDA
  • NOK 96 million (2006) NOK 190 million (2010)
  • Entry
  • June 2006
  • Realised
  • May 2011
  • Majority owner
  • Herkules Private Equity Fund II
  • Team
  • Gert W. Munthe, Sverre Flåskjer, Jostein Bjørge, Gaute Gillebo

Herkules acquired 70% of Nille from its founders in June 2006. The company was a well driven Norwegian wholesaler based on Far East purchasing with a large number of low price outlets.

During Herkules’ ownership, Nille has been transformed from being a wholesale focused operation to become a leading, best-in-class retailer with 312 stores.

Main events:

  • Invested more than NOK 200 million in stores, business systems
    and a completely new warehouse
  • Implemented Category management focusing on home decoration and seasonal events
  • New campaign and marketing model that has led to increase in number of customer visits
  • The store concept has been redesigned twice together with New Store Europe, with a substantial effect in revenues
  • More than 100 new stores opened or acquired, and locations changed for a number of stores
  • Streamlined sourcing and logistics, with a new and modern, low-cost warehouse
  • Prepared the company for expansion into new international markets

Herkules Private Equity Fund II sold Nille to BC Partners in May 2011.

Read more at: www.nille.no