When Graphite Capital and the management team were approached by Jones Inc, a large American apparel business, to discuss their potential acquisition of Kurt Geiger, we jointly developed a win-win scenario making the transaction attractive for both sides.

Graphite Capital led the management buy-out of Kurt Geiger, a leading retailer and distributor of footwear, in February 2008. The company had arrangements with UK and international department store chains, under which it managed all aspects of their shoe departments. In addition, the business operated UK high street and airport stores under the Kurt Geiger brand. Further distribution was achieved through the internet and a number of wholesale and licensing agreements in the UK and internationally.

Under Graphite’s ownership, Kurt Geiger continued to grow strongly, both nationally and internationally, across all elements of the distribution model. In the UK, it opened an additional twenty-five stores and won substantial new business with major department store groups, including Selfridges and Debenhams. Overseas expansion was driven by new franchise agreements in the Middle East, Turkey and Russia. With other sales channels (including the internet and wholesale), also growing strongly EBITDA more than doubled in the three years to 2011.