Eurazeo took a minority stake in ten-year-old French niche fragrance brand Ex Nihilo, investing alongside the co-founders.
WHO: Founded in 2013 by three friends—Sylvie Loday, Olivier Royère, and Benoît Verdier—Ex Nihilo (meaning “created out of nothing” in Latin) is an authentic French luxury brand bringing to the fore the pinnacle of know-how in perfumery. The brand's value proposition seamlessly blends modernity, personalization, edgy artistic collaborations, and luxury craftsmanship, resulting in high-quality and exclusive fragrances. Partnering with renowned master perfumers and using the finest ingredients to create unique scents and products, the brand leverages technology through its “Osmologue” machine, a high-precision fragrance blending system, to offer new-age personalization services to customers.
Eurazeo is a leading European investment group listed on Euronext Paris with €33.5 billion ($36 billion) in diversified assets under management, including €23 billion ($25 billion) on behalf of institutional and private clients through its private equity, private debt, real estate, and infrastructure strategies. The Group supports more than 600 mid-market companies, leveraging the commitment of its 400 employees, sector expertise, and privileged access to global markets via 12 offices in Europe, Asia, and the United States.
WHY: The investment is intended to support growth, with Eurazeo leveraging its international network and its operational expertise to enhance Ex Nihilo's digital capabilities, sharpen the brand and its community, and strengthen the organization globally.
IN THEIR OWN WORDS: Laurent Droin, Managing Director of Eurazeo, Brands said, "We have targeted the niche fragrance space given trends towards premiumization driven by consumer aspiration for uniqueness and experiences. Ex Nihilo—through its high-quality products, brand authenticity, and selective distribution—is ideally positioned to benefit from the current market momentum. We are delighted to partner with co-founders Sylvie Loday, Olivier Royère, and Benoît Verdier and their team to support the international growth of the company."
Co-founders of Ex Nihilo Sylvie Loday, Olivier Royère, and Benoît Verdier added, "The partnership between Ex Nihilo and Eurazeo is an organic relationship rooted in shared values and a mutual vision for the future. We recognize Eurazeo's unwavering commitment to fostering growth and innovation, aligning seamlessly with Ex Nihilo’s dedication to pushing the boundaries of luxury fragrance. We aim to elevate the industry to new heights, delivering unparalleled experiences to our discerning clientele. We are excited about the extraordinary milestones we will achieve together."
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