The UK-based Hut Group was founded in 2004 by chief executive Matthew Moulding and John Gallemore and operates more than 140 web sites that sell health- and beauty-related products. The business is built on a foundation of proprietary industry-leading technology, a world-class team, and a scientific approach to building global brands.
THG has a clear goal of being the global online leader in the health and beauty category and they are building that position one strategic acquisition at a time.
- The Hut Group is one of the UK’s highest-valued private companies.
- A £125MM investment from Old Mutual Global Investors (OMGI) in Q3 valued the business at £2.5B.
- It employs more than 3,000 people and expects that figure to double by 2019.
- They are on track to record sales this year of up to £750MM—a 50% increase on 2016’s figure.
- The beauty division is expected to account for around 75% of total sales next year, as growth was outstripping its former star nutrition brand MyProtein.
- The company expects to invest around £400MM this year on investments in technology and acquisitions, following £250MM of investment last year.
- The business has a dedicated team of nine staff who look for new deals, but the company will only purchase a business if they are confident they can achieve 10x growth.
- HTG takes a five-year view on acquisitions and has big targets.
- Roughly 75% of HTG sales are made outside the UK with North America being its largest market.
- The acquistion of RY makes the group the number-one online retailer for health and beauty in Australia.
- To date there have been three rounds of investment in the amount of £484,000,000.
- Existing shareholders in The Hut Group include Old Mutual Global Investors (OMGI), Blackrock, the private equity giant KKR, Sofina, a Belgian investor, Artemis, Altium Capital, William Currie Group.
- The Health & Beauty segment is a key priority for the group; the company says it expects to make “further significant investments in beauty” before the end of the year.
Beauty Acquistions This Year
- Cult beauty brand Illamasqua for a reported £25MM – October
- Luxury spa brand ESPA in a reported £100MM-plus deal – September
- Australia’s largest online hair care brand Ry – August
- Subscription business Glossybox – August
- THG beauty portfolio: Lookfantastic, Beauty Box, MyGeekBox, PopInABox, SkinStore.com, Beauty Expert, Mankind, HQhair, Grow Georgeous, Mio
Sources:
The Telegraph
Prolific North
