Our investments
When we look back on the achievements of those companies we have worked with, we have to conclude that the sense of a job well done takes a lot of beating.
| Farmos
www.farmos.com
Brief description
Leading provider of comprehensive range of solutions for cleanliness and hygiene for the professional market, with a strong presence in the Nordic region, Russia and the Baltics. The Company focuses on five types of clients; industrial, institutional, healthcare, retail and contract manufacturing.
Investment Rationale
- Business has significant growth opportunities, predominantly in Russia and the neighbouring Baltic states, and will benefit from being managed as a fully independent unit.
- The Company has an extensive local presence with sales and marketing resources in all key business areas.
- Farmos has a strong focus on R&D and a proven track record of developing high value-added cleaning solutions for its clients.
Value Creation
- A focus on export market growth has led to significant increase in the Company’s business in Russia.
- The Favora brand was sold and development of the Erisan brand is now the top priority for the retail portion of the business.
- Cost optimisation to industry best practice as a stand-alone business post demerger from Lumene.
Langholm Board members
Christian Lorenzen, Sharon Gardner
See press releases  |
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| Just Retirement
www.justretirement.com
Brief description
A UK financial services organisation focused purely on the needs of those at and in retirement. The Company specialises in enhanced pension annuities and drawdown equity release products.
Investment Rationale
- Strong sector growth driven by the ageing of the UK population and consumer requirements for tailor-made and flexible retirement solutions.
- Experienced management team driven to deliver high standard of customer service and product innovation.
- Brand and product differentiation that will drive company growth and provide market leadership.
Value Creation
- Focused business plan on high margin high return on capital products.
- Introduced asset management and reinsurance third party relationships.
- Built team of experienced Non-Executive Directors to strengthen board ahead of an IPO.
- Drove the business to an IPO just over 2 years after the business commenced trading.
Langholm Board members
Bert Wiegman, Oliver Wyncoll
See press releases |
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| Lumene Group
www.lumene.com
Brief description
Leading branded player in skin care, cosmetics and hair care in its home markets, with a masstige offering of skin care and cosmetics products which feature a unique combination of natural arctic ingredients and leading edge science. Lumene is the number one player in Finland, with over 40% of company sales from exports to Russia, the US and selected European countries. The Cutrin brand provides professional hair care products that are specifically formulated for Nordic hair and Nordic weather conditions.
Investment Rationale
- The company’s strong and stable market position in Finland, with an overall share of 32% in the skin care and colour cosmetic markets.
- The Lumene brand’s high brand awareness in Finland and its further international expansion.
- Profitable domestic business, with an opportunity to develop further through leading edge innovation.
- Opportunity to increase profitability by streamlining the business, by focusing on core brands and SKU’s.
Value Creation
- Brand portfolio focus – The Company has concentrated its efforts on the Lumene and Cutrin brands. As per the business plan, all other brands were sold or rationalised allowing for a streamlining of the business.
- The Company has sharpened the brand positioning of its Lumene and Cutrin brands ensuring that they have distinct and consumer relevant positionings.
- The streamlined brand portfolio and SKU reduction programs have increased efficiency and increased gross margins.
- The Company has grown in its existing export markets and expanded to reach new consumers in new markets.
- Cost optimisation to industry best practice as a stand alone business post demerger of Farmos.
Langholm Board members
Christian Lorenzen, Sharon Gardner
See press releases |
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| Cane-Line/Sika Horsnaes
www.caneline.com
www.sika-horsnaes.com
Brief description
Cane-Line and Sika-Horsnaes specialise in the design and marketing of premium hand-woven outdoor and, to some extent, indoor furniture, and is one of the leaders in its market, having pioneered this type of furniture in Scandinavia.
Investment Rationale - Strong sector growth driven by consumer trends towards sustainability and design product features.
- Dominant position in Scandinavia and the opportunity to expand to new strategic export markets.
- Strong existing network of distribution.
- Potential for further development of the brands and the product ranges.
Value Creation - Creation of new financial reporting and control systems
- Development of new market entry strategies
- Strengthened board with appointment of Chairman with relevant international experience
Langholm Board member
Christian Lorenzen
See press release |
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| Tyrrells
www.tyrrellspotatochips.co.uk
Brief description
Tyrrells is a high growth and emerging brand of premium potato and root vegetable chips. The products are manufactured from “seed–to-chip” at Tyrrells Court Farm.
Investment Rationale
- Strong sector growth driven by the consumer’s desire for better quality food and authentic ingredients with provenance.
- Strong independent distribution base with opportunities to strengthen the breadth and depth of distribution to increase availability.
Value Creation
- Sharpened the brand positioning with a focus on building the brand personality and its engagement with its core consumers.
- Invested in factory expansion to meet growing demand.
Langholm Board members
Sharon Gardner, Oliver Wyncoll, Steven Esom
See press releases |
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| Brief description Bart Spices is one of the UK’s leading quality herbs and spices suppliers. Its broad range of cooking ingredients, sourced from around the world, has been at the forefront of Fairtrade and Organic innovation.
Investment Rationale - Solid market growth underpinned by consumer interest in food, cooking and provenance.
- Strong growth track record.
- Longstanding relationships with key customers.
Value Creation - Invested behind brand development and activation.
- Stepped up innovation.
- Invested in entire supply chain to deliver a step-change improvement in quality assurance.
Langholm Board members Oliver Wyncoll, Steven Esom See press release |
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| Dorset Cereals
www.dorsetcereals.co.uk
Brief description
An innovative, fast growth brand of cereal products providing premium quality ingredients for healthy eating and simple unadulterated pleasure.
Investment Rationale - An opportunity to satisfy the consumers’ desire for a cereal brand that did not compromise on ingredient quality or taste.
- Broad distribution in the UK and export to 51 other countries.
Value Creation - Created a unique and motivating brand positioning that brought new consumers into the brand and created loyalty with existing consumers.
- Dramatically improved the brand communication with a relevant consumer message communicated through new packaging, a new website, events, consumer promotions, PR, etc.
- Improved consumer availability by increasing breadth and depth of distribution.
- Grew export sales by focusing on strategic export markets and direct retailer relationships.
- More than doubled factory capacity, improved efficiency and invested in best-in-class technology to meet the growing consumer demand.
- Built financial control systems and reporting to aid management decision making.
- Accelerated the company’s new product development plans providing many successful innovations.
Langholm Board members
Bert Wiegman, Sharon Gardner, Oliver Wyncoll
See press releases |
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