08/05/2012
MCH LAST ITS ENTRY IN SUPERMERCADOS EL ÁRBOL.
The VC/PE management firm MCH Private Equity has reached a first agreement to acquire Supermercados El Árbol, mostly in hands of the six savings banks of Castile and León through the investment firm Madrigal.
The transaction amount was not disclosed and would mean a boost in the financial capacity of the chain to cope, mainly, to short and medium term acquisitions. The private equity firm proposal would be accompanied by an expansion process of the company through the acquisition of some other chains. If the transaction is confirmed, MCH would take an approximately 60% of El Árbol.
The deal would also mean the exit of savings banks (España-Duero, Caja de Burgos, Caja Círculo, Caja Segovia and Caja de Ávila), with more than 40% of the capital, and a group of businessmen, led by Fernando Martín and José Rolando Álvarez, with a 20%. Only Caja Inmaculada, with 8% may have expressed interest in remains in the group’s shareholding, being the remaining shares held by several managers with the 30%.
Supermercados El Árbol presented last year a €880 million turnover, up 1% from the previous year. The company currently employs 7,000 workers at 427 supermarkets and 30 Max Discount stores in 10 autonomous communities.
MCH and Anchorage Capital Partners, the U.S. VC/PE firm specializing in investments in restructuring (turnaround) companies, mantained talks with El Árbol during some months for the injection of €100 million acquisition of Dinosol, finally acquired by Maxima. The VC/PE firm own companies such as Marco Aldany (see news), Gamo, Talgo, Azulev, Segur Ibérica, Televida y Hogar, Europastry (see news) or Conservas Isabel (see news).