TIDMAPAX
RNS Number : 6790P
Apax Global Alpha Limited
11 October 2023
Apax Global Alpha Limited
Funds advised by Apax acquire Bazooka Candy Brands
Apax Global Alpha, the closed-ended investment company providing
access to the Apax Private Equity Funds, today announced that it
has invested approximately EUR16.6m in Bazooka Candy Brands
("Bazooka") on a look-through basis(1) .
On 10(th) October 2023, the Apax XI Fund ("Apax XI"), in which
AGA is a limited partner, announced that it had acquired Bazooka, a
portfolio of leading non-chocolate confectionary ("NCC") brands,
from Michael D. Eisner's Tornante Company and funds affiliated with
Madison Dearborn Partners ("MDP").
Bazooka produces, markets, and distributes a range of iconic
confectionary brands, including Ring Pop(R), Push Pop(R), Baby
Bottle Pop(R), Juicy Drop(R), and Bazooka Bubble Gum(R). The
Company's portfolio spans lollipops, gummies, chewy candy, and gum,
packed in highly unique formats to deliver Edible Entertainment(R)
experiences to generations of customers since 1947. Within the US,
Bazooka is a top-10 manufacturer in the NCC category and holds a
leading share position in 'front of store sales', a coveted, high
margin segment for retailers(2) . Products are distributed
worldwide with c.80% of sales in the US across a broad network of
channels, with the remaining c.20% of sales occurring
internationally in over 40 countries. Over the past several years,
Bazooka's U.S. retail sales growth has significantly outpaced the
overall confectionary category, and in the year-to-date period
through August 2023, retail sales have grown approximately 29%
year-over-year(2) .
Apax's Internet/Consumer sector team, working in partnership
with Bazooka's management team, will look to stand the company up
as an independent business and build on the success of Bazooka's
global portfolio of beloved confectionery brands. In support of its
growth efforts, the team will focus on distribution growth, product
innovation, geographic expansion, and the strategic acquisition of
brands in complementary categories.
Note that AGA's investment in Bazooka is calculated based on the
look-through position of Apax XI's overall investment in Bazooka
and is translated based on the exchange rates at close3.
AGA, whose shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange,
provides investors with access to a diversified portfolio of
private equity funds advised by Apax as well as a focused portfolio
of mostly debt investments. In June 2022, AGA made a commitment of
c. $700m to Apax XI.(4)
For more information about the transaction, please visit:
https://www.apax.com/news/press-releases/
Contact details
Investor Relations - AGA
Katarina Sallerfors
T: +44 7436908492
E: katarina.sallerfors@apax.com
Footnotes
1. Apax XI is yet to hold a final close. Figures are based
on assumed final commitments and are subject to change.
2. According to Information Resources Incorporated (IRI).
3. Based on Bloomberg closing EUR/USD FX rate on 6 October
of 1.0586.
4. AGA's commitment in Apax XI of c.$700m represents a commitment
of $490m in the USD tranche and EUR198.4.m in the euro
tranche.
Notes
1. Note that references in this announcement to Apax Global Alpha
Limited have been abbreviated to "AGA" or "the Company". References
to Apax Partners LLP have been abbreviated to "Apax Partners"
or "the Investment Adviser"
2. Please be advised that this announcement may contain inside
information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations
(EU) NO. 596/2014 ("MAR")
3. This announcement is not for release, publication or distribution,
directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, into or within
the United States or to "US persons" (as defined in Regulation
S under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Securities Act")) or into or within Australia, Canada,
South Africa or Japan. Recipients of this announcement in jurisdictions
outside the UK should inform themselves about and observe any
applicable legal requirements in their jurisdictions. In particular,
the distribution of the announcement may be restricted by law
in certain jurisdictions
4. The information presented herein is not an offer for sale within
the United States of any equity shares or other securities
of Apax Global Alpha Limited ("AGA"). AGA has not been and
will not be registered under the US Investment Company Act
of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act"). In addition,
AGA's shares (the "Shares") have not been and will not be registered
under the Securities Act or any other applicable law of the
United States. Consequently, the Shares may not be offered
or sold or otherwise transferred within the United States,
or to, or for the account or benefit of, US Persons, except
pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements
of the Securities Act and under circumstances which will not
require AGA to register under the Investment Company Act. No
public offering of the Shares is being made in the United States
5. This announcement may include forward-looking statements. The
words "expect", "anticipate", "intends", "plan", "estimate",
"aim", "forecast", "project" and similar expressions (or their
negative) identify certain of these forward-looking statements.
These forward-looking statements are statements regarding AGA's
intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, among
other things, AGA's results of operations, financial condition,
liquidity, prospects, growth and strategies. The forward-looking
statements in this presentation are based on numerous assumptions
regarding AGA's present and future business strategies and
the environment in which AGA will operate in the future. Forward-looking
statements involve inherent known and unknown risks, uncertainties
and contingencies because they relate to events and depend
on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future and
may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of
AGA to be materially different from those expressed or implied
by such forward looking statements. Many of these risks and
uncertainties relate to factors that are beyond AGA's ability
to control or estimate precisely, such as future market conditions,
currency fluctuations, the behaviour of other market participants,
the actions of regulators and other factors such as AGA's ability
to continue to obtain financing to meet its liquidity needs,
changes in the political, social and regulatory framework in
which AGA operates or in economic or technological trends or
conditions. Past performance should not be taken as an indication
or guarantee of future results, and no representation or warranty,
express or implied, is made regarding future performance. AGA
expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release
any updates or revisions to these forward-looking statements
to reflect any change in AGA's expectations with regard thereto
or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which
any statement is based after the date of this announcement,
or to update or to keep current any other information contained
in this announcement. Accordingly, undue reliance should not
be placed on the forward-looking statements, which speak only
as of the date of this announcement.
About Apax Global Alpha Limited
AGA is a Guernsey registered closed-ended collective investment
scheme incorporated as a non-cellular company that listed on the
London Stock Exchange on 15 June 2015. It is regulated by the
Guernsey Financial Services Commission.
AGA's objective is to provide shareholders with capital
appreciation from its investment portfolio and regular dividends.
The Company is targeting an annualised Total Return, across
economic cycles, of 12-15% (net of fees and expenses) including a
dividend yield of 5% of Net Asset Value.
The investment policy of the Company is to make Private Equity
investments in Apax Funds, and Derived Investments which are
investments in equities and debt derived from the insights gained
via Apax Partners' Private Equity activities.
Further information regarding the Company and its publications
are available on the Company's website at
www.apaxglobalalpha.com.
About Apax
Apax Partners LLP ("Apax") is a leading global private equity
advisory firm. For 50 years, Apax has worked to inspire growth and
ideas that transform businesses. The firm has raised and advised
funds with aggregate commitments of more than $65 billion. The Apax
Funds invest in companies across four global sectors of Tech,
Services, Healthcare and Internet/Consumer. These funds provide
long-term equity financing to build and strengthen world-class
companies. For further information about Apax, please visit
www.apax.com .
Apax is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct
Authority in the UK.
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