The Carlyle Group and InvestIndustrial to acquire Louis Poulsen, B&B Italia and Flos.

The Carlyle Group, the listed US-based private equity firm, and InvestIndustrial to acquire Louis Poulsen, a producer and seller of electrical appliances and architectural lighting, B&B Italia, a furniture designing and manufacturing company, and Flos, that designs, manufactures and sells consumer, professional and outdoor lighting products and lamps. Financial terms were not disclosed. The aim is to create a new high-end interior design group with global revenues of more than €500m. The new group will be one of the first of its kind, focusing on the high-end design market. All three companies are established and well regarded for their unique, iconic products, notably including B&B Italia’s Up chair, the Arco lamp designed for Flos, and Louis Poulsen’s PH 5 lamp. “The high-end design market is very attractive with compelling long-term growth prospects. We are pleased to team up with Investindustrial to continue to build on their investments and create a new high-end design group. The brands will now have the potential for greater geographical reach, access to enhanced sourcing and distribution networks and they will also have the ability to better adapt to market evolution and the changing expectations of international customers.” Marco De Benedetti, Carlyle Europe Partners's Managing Director and Co-Head.