PLATINUM EQUITY TO ACQUIRE SOLO, EUROPEAN PROVIDER OF PERSONALIZABLE PRODUCTS AND APPAREL

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LOS ANGELES, June 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Platinum Equity announced today it has entered into exclusive negotiations to acquire Solo Group ("Solo"), a European market leader in business-to-business personalizable products, from company founder Alain Milgrom and management.

Financial terms were not disclosed. The potential transaction remains subject to the information and consultation processes of the relevant employee representative bodies as well as customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.

Solo, founded in 1991 and headquartered in Paris, has established a leading position in the European market for personalizable products, driven in part by the 2022 acquisition of Dutch full-service supplier midocean, which created a true one-stop-shop solution for both hard goods and textiles.

Solo's portfolio includes wearables, textile accessories and a wide range of hard good products such as drinkware, bags and luggage, stationery and tech accessories. The company serves more than 19,000 customers, including resellers, specialists and distributors.

"Solo's strong foundation and entrepreneurial heritage make it an excellent fit for our hands-on approach to value creation," said Platinum Equity Co-President Louis Samson. "We have great confidence in the company's leadership team and fundamentals. We believe that our M&A resources and operations capabilities can help the company accelerate its growth and foster new innovative solutions for an increasingly complex personalized products market."

"This deal provides another example of how Platinum can craft transaction solutions even in a challenging time for buyouts globally," Samson added.

Solo's management team will retain a stake in the business.

"Solo aims to shape the future of personalization. One that is not only high performing but also sustainable and designed to meet the challenges of today and anticipate the needs of tomorrow," said Solo CEO Audélia Krief, who will continue to lead the business following the ownership transition. "This requires a continuous investment in innovation, service and automation that is now made possible through the financial sponsorship of Platinum Equity."

Stephen Gibson, COO of Solo and former CEO of midocean, added: "The European market for personalizable products is developing fast, driving consolidation towards full-service suppliers of both hard goods and textiles. In our quest to accelerate this development in Europe, we are extremely excited to have attracted Platinum Equity to support our ambition."

Solo distinguishes itself through its global procurement, product quality, fast fulfilment and advanced in-house customization capabilities, offering made-to-order solutions for both garments and hard goods, with a team of 1,600 employees across Europe and Asia and a robust pan-European distribution network.

"Solo's integrated model, combining distribution scale and on-demand printing, delivers compelling advantages in cost, product breadth, inventory availability and speed to Solo and its B2B customers," said Malik Vorderwuelbecke, Managing Director at Platinum Equity. "In a highly fragmented market, these strengths position the company as an attractive platform for organic growth and strategic acquisitions. We will look to expand geographically and into new product categories."

Latham & Watkins LLP is serving as Platinum Equity's legal advisor.

About Platinum Equity
Founded in 1995 by Tom Gores, Platinum Equity is a global investment firm with approximately $50 billion of assets under management and a portfolio of approximately 60 operating companies that serve customers around the world. Platinum Equity specializes in mergers, acquisitions and operations – a trademarked strategy it calls M&A&O^® – acquiring and operating companies in a broad range of business markets, including manufacturing, distribution, transportation and logistics, equipment rental, metals services, media and entertainment, technology, telecommunications and other industries. Over the past 30 years Platinum Equity has completed more than 500 acquisitions.

Contacts:

Dan Whelan
Platinum Equity
[email protected]

SOURCE Platinum Equity