[ES] RAJA Group completes acquisition of Viking and Major Accounts division of Office Depot Europe

RAJA Group, Europe’s leading multi-channel distributor of business supplies and equipment, announces the completion of the acquisition of Viking, including the Major Accounts division of Office Depot Europe, in seven European countries: UK, Ireland, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands and Belgium. The acquisition from AURELIUS Investment Group follows receipt of regulatory approvals.

RAJA Group strengthens its position in the office supplies market

The RAJA Group, present in 19 countries in Europe, is the European leader in the distribution of packaging, industrial equipment, hygiene and cleaning products and personal protection products and, since the acquisition in 2019 of JPG in France, Mondoffice in Italy and Kalamazoo in Spain, a major player in the office supplies and office furniture market. The acquisition of Viking allows the Group to complete its geographic coverage, strengthen its positions in this strategic market and become the leading BtoB e-commerce player in the office supplies market in Europe.

“This acquisition is a unique opportunity that fits perfectly with our strategy to be a global partner for companies by meeting all their needs in packaging, office supplies and industrial equipment, with 250,000 products, available throughout Europe“, says Danièle KAPEL-MARCOVICI, President and CEO of the RAJA Group.

Viking, the e-commerce brand of Office Depot Europe, expects to reach a turnover of almost 500 million euros by 2021. With JPG, Mondoffice, Kalamazoo and now Viking, the RAJA Office business (distribution of office supplies and furniture) will cover 10 countries in Europe with 24-hour delivery.

Development priorities

The RAJA Group’s ambition is to give a strong identity to the Viking brand, which has been a leading player in Europe for many years in innovation and customer service. The Group will strengthen local sales teams to improve customer satisfaction and loyalty, and will create a European sales organisation to better serve key account customers with a broad and competitive offer.

The acquisition also paves the way for significant synergies in purchasing, transportation, marketing and sales, which will improve Viking’s economic performance. With Viking, the RAJA Group will serve more than 2 million customers in Europe, will have 4,500 employees and has set itself the target of achieving a turnover of EUR 1.75 billion by 2022.

Raffael REINHOLD, CEO of Office Depot Europe:“We are delighted that the transaction has been successfully concluded and that we are now part of the RAJA Group. This new structure will further support our strategic transformation and secure the Viking brand’s long term position in Europe as a leading provider of workspace solutions.

About RAJA Group

The RAJA Group is Europe’s leading distributor of business supplies and equipment. Present in 19 countries with 26 companies, RAJA offers the largest range of packaging in Europe, as well as a complete range of office supplies and furniture, industrial and shop equipment, storage, hygiene and cleaning products and personal protective equipment. The Group’s companies serve one million customers in Europe, from start-ups to multinationals, in all sectors of activity: distribution, industry, e-commerce, services and public administration. RAJA is an independent, family-owned French group founded in 1954, distinguished by the high quality of its products, the expertise and proximity of its services, as well as its relationship of trust with its customers. The RAJA Group, with its European headquarters in Roissy, near Paris (France), employs 3,000 people and expects to reach a turnover of 1.2 billion euros in 2021. The RAJA-Danièle Marcovici Foundation, created in 2006, provides financial support to projects that promote the social and economic autonomy of women and girls in France and around the world. Over the past 15 years, the Foundation has supported 576 projects managed by 312 associations, with a total budget of more than 11 million euros. For more information visit our corporate website raja-group.com.

About Office Depot Europe

As a leading provider of workspace solutions, Office Depot Europe operates in several countries and works closely with the world’s leading brands as well as smaller start-ups. We have years of experience and expertise and offer an integrated omni-channel platform and dedicated professionals across our main channels and brands: Office Depot and Viking. We work hard to enable our customers to focus on growing their business while being more productive, efficient, environmentally responsible and profitable. We provide them with expertise in office supplies, technology, writing and office machines, general services, furniture and presentation, stationery, filing and much more. We are our customers’ trusted supplier, adding value to their business and being their one-stop shop for everything they may need. Office Depot Europe is a registered trademark of the AURELIUS Group, a European investment group. For more information visit www.officedepot.eu.

About the Aurelius Group

AURELIUS is a European investment group with offices in Munich, London, Stockholm, Madrid, Amsterdam and Luxembourg. Since its inception in 2006, AURELIUS has evolved from a local investor to an international multi-asset manager. The core of the investment strategy is the operational support of its portfolio companies with a team of around 100 experts. With its charitable organisation AURELIUS Refugee Initiative e.V., AURELIUS supports refugees in their transition to a new life.