The RAJA Group completes the acquisition of Viking and the key account business of Office Depot Europe
5min read
02/11/2021
Germany
RAJA Group, Europe’s leading multi-channel mail order company for business equipment and supplies, announces the completion of the acquisition of Viking’s business, including Office Depot Europe’s key account business, in seven European countries: United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands and Belgium. The closing of this acquisition with AURELIUS Investment Group took place after receipt of regulatory approvals.
RAJA Group strengthens its position in the office supplies market
The RAJA Group is represented in 19 European countries. It is the European leader in the distribution of packaging, warehouse and business equipment, hygiene and cleaning products, and personal protection products, and has been a major player in the office supplies and furniture market since the acquisition of JPG in France, Mondoffice in Italy and Kalamazoo in Spain in 2019. The acquisition of Viking will allow the Group to complete its geographic coverage, strengthen its positions in this strategic market and become the leader in BtoB e-commerce in the European office supplies market.
This acquisition is a unique opportunity that fits perfectly with our strategy to be a global partner for companies, covering all their needs for packaging, office supplies and business and warehouse equipment, offering them 250,000 products across Europe.says Danièle KAPEL-MARCOVICI, President and CEO of RAJA Group.
Viking, the e-commerce brand of Office Depot Europe, expects sales of nearly €500 million in 2021. With JPG, Mondoffice, Kalamazoo and now Viking, the RAJA Office division (distribution of office products and furniture) covers 10 countries in Europe with 24-hour delivery.
Development priorities
The RAJA Group aims to give a strong identity to the Viking brand, which has been a major player in Europe for many years in terms of innovation and customer service. The group will strengthen local sales teams to improve customer satisfaction and loyalty and build a European sales organisation to better serve key accounts with a broad and competitive offering. The acquisition also paves the way for significant synergies in purchasing, transport, marketing and distribution that will improve Viking’s commercial performance.
With Viking, RAJA Group will serve more than 2 million customers in Europe, will employ 4,500 people and has set a target to reach a turnover of €1,750 million in 2022.
The completion of the acquisition of Viking is an important step in the development of our group. I am delighted to welcome the 1,500 new employees to the RAJA Group team and invite them to share our values and corporate culture. Their professionalism and experience are the cornerstone to improve customer service and create a new growth dynamic with the support of RAJA GroupDanièle KAPEL-MARCOVICI
Raffael REINHOLD, CEO of Office Depot Europe: “We are delighted that the transaction has been successfully completed and that we are now part of the RAJA Group. This new structure will further support our strategic transformation and secure the long-term position of the Viking brand in Europe as a leading provider of workplace solutions.
About the RAJA Group
The RAJA Group is the leading European multi-channel mail order company for business equipment and supplies. RAJA has 24 companies in 18 countries and offers the largest range of packaging in Europe as well as a complete range of office supplies and furniture, warehouse and business equipment and hygiene, cleaning and personal protection products. The group's companies serve one million customers in Europe, from start-ups to multinationals, in all areas of activity: Distribution, Industry, E-commerce, Services and Public Administration. RAJA is an independent French group founded in 1954. It stands out for the high quality of its products, the reactivity and excellence of its services, and its proximity and trusting relationship with its customers. With its European headquarters in Roissy, near Paris, France, the RAJA Group employs 3,000 dynamic and competent people and expects a turnover of 1.2 billion euros in 2021. Founded in 2006, the RAJA-Danièle Marcovici Foundation financially supports projects that promote the social and economic autonomy of women and girls in France and worldwide. In the last 15 years, the foundation has supported 576 projects of 312 associations with a total budget of more than 11 million euros.
About Office Depot Europe
Office Depot Europe is a leading workplace solutions provider operating in several countries and working closely with the world's leading brands and small start-ups. It has years of experience and expertise, offering an integrated omnichannel platform and dedicated professionals across key channels and brands: Office Depot and Viking. He works hard to help clients focus on growing their businesses while becoming more productive, efficient, environmentally conscious and profitable. Office Depot Europe provides customers with expertise in office supplies, technology, writing, décor, furniture, stationery, filing and more. Customers trust it because, as their primary point of contact, it adds value to their business by meeting their needs.
About the Aurelius Group
AURELIUS is a European investment group with offices in Munich, London, Stockholm, Madrid, Amsterdam and Luxembourg. Since its founding in 2006, AURELIUS has developed from a local investor specialising in turnarounds into an international multi-asset manager. The core of the investment strategy is the operational management of the portfolio companies with a team of around 100 experts from the internal operational task force. AURELIUS supports refugees with its non-profit association, the AURELIUS Refugee Initiative e.V.
