Carlyle Group puts Britax Childcare business up for sale
Mon, 16 Aug 2010 | BUSINESS SALE
Britax Childcare, producer of child car seats, has been put up for sale by its US private equity owner, Carlyle Group.
Carlyle has assigned Rothschild with the task of advising on the business sale after receiving notifications of interest from trade and financial companies.
The private equity firm bought Britax from its parent, Britax International, in 2005 for £230 million, and will be looking to achieve a good return on its investment.
The company is the market leader in the UK with a 40 per cent stake of the child safety car seat market. It has manufacturing operations in the UK, Germany, North America and Australia and employs approximately 1,000 people.
The Surrey-based business started out making automotive safety gear in 1938 and it moved on to child safety car products in the 1970s. Its brands include Safe n Sound and the Römer.
Whilst in the Carlyle Group’s hands, Britax has grown from sales of £120 million in 2004 to £183 million in 2008. The rise was affected partly by regulations for the use of child safety seats becoming stricter.
Within the EU, all children must use a car safety seat or booster seat until they reach 12 years of age, unless they are taller than 4ft 5in.
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