Raja Group signs agreement with Aurelius to acquire Viking and Office Depot Europe in 7 countries

Raja Group has signed an agreement with Aurelius to acquire Viking and Office Depot Europe in 7 countries.

RAJA Group, Europe’s leading distributor of business consumables and equipment, has announced that it has reached an agreement with Aurelius to acquire the VIKING companies, including those remaining in the Office Depot Europe portfolio, in seven European countries: UK, Ireland, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands and Belgium. VIKING, the flagship brand of Office Depot Europe’s e-commerce business, is a major player in the B2B distribution of office supplies and furniture. The company’s European branches employ 1,500 people and generate a turnover of nearly €500 million. The financial terms of the agreement have not been made public.

RAJA Group accelerates its growth in Europe

With a presence in 18 European countries and 3,000 employees, the RAJA Group is a European leader in packaging distribution and a significant player in the office supplies and furniture market, following the acquisition of the Staples business in Southern Europe in 2019: JPG, Mondoffice and Kalamazoo, i.e. French, Italian and Spanish companies specialising in workplace furnishings. This acquisition is in line with the RAJA Group’s strategy to increase sales, broaden its customer base and diversify its offering and will enable the Group to strengthen its position and complement its geographical reach in these strategic markets.

“This acquisition represents an excellent strategic opportunity to strengthen our position in Europe, particularly in those seven countries where we are already present with our RAJA subsidiaries. It will further expand the Group’s presence and give new impetus to our ambitions in the office supplies market. This acquisition fits perfectly with our strategic vision of being a global partner for European companies, from small start-ups to large corporations, and will strengthen our partnerships with globally recognised brands,” –says Danièle KAPEL-MARCOVICI, CEO of the RAJA Group.

Viking, a major player in the distribution of office supplies

Viking Office Products, an American company, appeared in Europe in 1990, first in the UK and then throughout Europe. With its pioneering know-how in distance selling techniques, it revolutionised the distribution of office supplies through catalogues. As the creator of the ‘fanatical customer service’ concept that built customer loyalty, Viking developed strong brand awareness in its markets. Acquired by Office Depot in 1998 and by Aurelius in 2017, Viking is now a major player in the office supplies and workplace equipment market.

Headquartered in Venlo, the Netherlands, the acquired companies serve 1.2 million customers in Europe and have two main distribution centres in Großostheim, Germany and Leicester, UK.

The acquisition provides the RAJA Group with additional growth opportunities in the coming years and a solid foundation to accelerate the development of its European operations. This will enable the Group to serve more than 2.2 million customers in Europe and achieve a turnover in excess of €1 billion 600 million.

“Viking has more than 30 years of experience in Europe and knows the needs and expectations of customers in its markets. The employees of Viking and the RAJA Group share the same values, such as entrepreneurial spirit and customer service culture, which have contributed to our successes. Together, we will return Viking to profitable growth by leveraging our collective experience in acquiring and retaining European customers, as well as our ability to implement synergies in purchasing, marketing and sales, particularly with JPG, Mondoffice and Kalamazoo, but also with RAJA subsidiaries in each country. I am delighted to welcome 1,500 new employees to the RAJA Group with their recognised skills and professionalism. Together, we will create an even more effective team that will make the RAJA Group a leading partner for companies in Europe,” says Danièle KAPEL-MARCOVICI.

Raffael Reinhold, CEO Office Depot Europe: “ We are excited about this opportunity and look forward to accelerating the development of our business within the RAJA Group. As a successful family business, the RAJA Group provides an excellent base for the future of our business with great potential for fruitful cooperation and growth. The strategic alignment with our core markets and operations has made our business attractive to our strategic buyer RAJA and provides an excellent position to further develop our joint business “

The transaction is subject to antitrust approval and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2021.