Vendis Capital invests in HUMANOID

Vendis Capital invests in HUMANOID

Arnhem, 3 September 2015 – Sandra Harmsen and Hans Boelens, HUMANOID’s founders, have teamed up with Vendis Capital, the investment fund specialized in the European consumer sector, and Yvonne van Dormael who will become the new CEO of the company.

HUMANOID was founded in 1981 and has grown into an established Dutch fashion brand, embraced by a large international client base. For more than 34 years HUMANOID has developed inspiring women collections: expressive, creative and authentic, but also modern and comfortable. The collection of HUMANOID is sold online, via its flagship store in Arnhem (NL) and in ‘high-end boutiques’ spread over more than 25 countries, with a strong presence in the Benelux.

The transaction provided Hans Boelens the opportunity to hand over his operational responsibilities as CEO to Yvonne van Dormael. The creative direction of HUMANOID remains unchanged: Sandra Harmsen continues in her role as creative director and, as in previous years, will take care of the look, positioning and identity of the brand and its collections.

“The partnership with Vendis Capital is an important step for HUMANOID”, explains Hans Boelens. “The company is ready for a next growth phase and with the entry of Vendis Capital and their knowledge of the consumer sector, we found the right partner to help us do this”.

“We are very happy with our entry in HUMANOID” explains Michiel Deturck of Vendis Capital. “We were impressed with the strong position of HUMANOID in the attractive affordable luxury segment, the result of a consistent signature and dedicated focus on quality and comfort over the last 30 years. We look forward to working together with Sandra, Yvonne and the rest of the team to support the continued development of the company”.

The participation in HUMANOID represents the last investment of Vendis Capital I. Future investments will be done by Vendis Capital II, the second fund that secured a successful first closing of €125m with a target fund size of €150m. Vendis Capital II invests between €5m and €25m per transaction in companies with sales ranging from €10m to €120m.