Sun Capital Partners, Inc. (“Sun Capital”), a leading private investment firm specializing in leveraged buyouts and investments in market-leading companies, today announced that an affiliate has completed the sale of Lexington Home Brands (“Lexington” or “the Company”), a global manufacturer and marketer of residential and contract furnishings, and a recognized industry leader in innovative design and lifestyle marketing. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Headquartered in Thomasville, North Carolina, Lexington is leading designer, marketer and manufacturer of upscale case goods and upholstered furniture for all rooms of the home. Brands include Lexington, Sligh, and Tommy Bahama®, which are distributed through an extensive network of independent home furnishings retailers, internet retailers, designers and design showrooms in North America and abroad. The Company also designs, markets and manufactures outdoor furniture, selling these products through its distribution channels and at specialty outdoor stores.
“Lexington represented a great opportunity to build a strong platform of globally-recognized furniture brands,” said Marc Leder, Co-CEO of Sun Capital. “We’re very pleased with the work our team undertook in collaboration with Company management to expand Lexington’s market presence, profitability, and portfolio of products. Over the course of our partnership the Company turned from generating losses at the time we first invested to achieving industry leading profit margins.”
During the Sun Capital affiliate’s ownership period, Lexington repositioned itself in the market, materially grew sales, strengthened its distribution network, developed a strong portfolio of brands, and materially improved its operating efficiencies. Additionally, Lexington entered the fast-growing outdoor furniture segment and acquired Sligh Furniture to expand its product offering into the home office and home entertainment categories.
“We are proud of the accomplishments that the management team achieved during our time working together. When we initially invested in Lexington in 2002, the Company had been materially impacted by foreign competition, so we repositioned the Company’s cost structure and business model to adapt to the new market realities. We next worked with management to further develop Lexington’s portfolio of brands, strengthen its distribution, and expand its offerings, especially in the outdoor furnishings category,” said Aaron Wolfe, Managing Director at Sun Capital. “We have truly enjoyed working with Phil Haney, Craig Spooner and the rest of the team at Lexington during this investment, and wish them continued success.”
Sun Capital has deep experience in the furniture and home products sector through current and recent portfolio company investments in ScS Upholstery, a leading U.K sofa and carpet retailer; Furniture Factory Outlet, LLC; a market leading value-oriented home furnishings retailer; Rowe Furniture, a leading manufacturer of custom upholstered furniture; Innocor, a leader in consumer-driven polyurethane foam products used in bedding and mattress manufacturing, and Mattress Firm, a leading bedding retailer.
Stifel served as a financial advisor on the deal, while Kirkland & Ellis LLP provided legal counsel.
About Sun Capital Partners, Inc. Sun Capital Partners is a global private equity firm focused on identifying companies’ untapped potential and leveraging its deep operational and financial resources to transform results. Sun Capital is a trusted partner that is recognized for its investment and operational experience, including particular expertise in the consumer products and services, food and beverage, industrial, packaging, chemicals, building products, automotive, restaurant and retail sectors. Since 1995, Sun Capital has invested in more than 330 companies worldwide across a broad range of industries and transaction structures. Sun Capital has offices in Boca Raton, Los Angeles and New York, and affiliates in London, Frankfurt and Shenzhen.
