Alantra advises The Future Business Partnership on its investment in Netherlands-based Naïf

Apr 2023

Buy-side advisory

London – Alantra, the global investment banking firm, has advised The Future Business Partnership (“FBP”) on its investment in Netherlands-based Naïf. Founded as a natural skincare brand for babies and children, Naïf now also provides natural skincare for women.

Parents are increasingly seeking baby care products which are better for their children and also for the environment in which they will grow and develop. Naïf is enabling the conscious consumer to shop with confidence by creating personal care products that can be trusted by parents and that are kinder for people and planet. Naïf’s world is one with a short and local supply chain, products free of microplastics and other concerning ingredients, where a UV suncream filter does not bleach coral reefs and where ingredients are 98% of natural origin. Naïf co-Chairs the B-Corp beauty working group on packaging and are making continuous strides in improving the environmental footprint of their own business with recycled and recyclable packaging and refill products.

As a Dutch market leader, having sold over 4 million products alone in 2022, Naïf’s commercial ambition is boundless. As part of the transaction, former Unilever executive Thomas Escher will join as non-executive advisor to the business to assist its expansion across Europe and beyond.

FBP is a thematic European impact investor run by hands-on sector specialists, focused on driving the transition of household consumption towards a socially and environmentally sustainable future. Naïf is a fantastic example of the next generation of established, market-leading and fast-growing consumer brands which FBP is designed to support, providing staple consumer essentials to the mass market which are better for our ecosystems and communities. The need for this mega-trend is irresistible and the growth of conscious consumption has proven resilient to the economic challenges of the past year.

Advising FBP underscores Alantra’s position as a leading mid-market M&A advisor in the personal care sector and follows advising on the sales of Childs Farm to PZ Cussons plc, Hairburst to JD Sports plc and Laboratorios Forenqui to Sherpa Capital, and advising Medik8 and Absolute Collagen on investment from Inflexion and Livingbridge respectively. Matthew Wiseman, who leads the Alantra UK Consumer team and is a recognised health & beauty expert, led the team advising FBP.