Genesis Capital is pleased to announce the completion of a majority investment transaction into The Paradies Shops, Inc. by Freeman Spogli & Co.
The Paradies Shops, a family-owned business for over 50 years, is a leader in the travel retail industry currently operating over 500 stores in airports and hotels. The Paradies family will continue to be a significant shareholder in the Company and the existing management team, led by CEO Gregg Paradies, will continue to manage and operate the business.
“We are very excited to be gaining a partner with such a long history of backing successful retail companies and helping them to grow” said Gregg Paradies, Chief Executive Officer. “Genesis Capital was instrumental in leading our evaluation of strategic alternatives and helping us to ultimately achieve our key objectives. This new partnership will enable us to continue to provide the highest level of service and products to our customers, take advantage of growth opportunities, diversify risk to our family shareowners and maintain our core values and family culture.”
Freeman Spogli, a private investment firm with an excellent track record over 27 years, exclusively invests with management in leading retail and consumer-related companies positioned for growth.
Genesis Capital LLC acted as sole investment banking advisor to The Paradies Shops, Inc.
About The Paradies Shops, Inc.
The Paradies Shops operates more than 500 stores in over 70 airports and hotels across the United States and Canada, serving more than a half-billion customers each year. These stores include original, one-of-a-kind brands unique to individual airports, as well as national brands such as Brooks Brothers, PGA Tour Shops, Dunkin’ Donuts, Brighton and CNBC News. Outside of airports, The Paradies Shops operates retail locations at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center (Orlando, Florida), Tropicana Hotel and Casino (Atlantic City, New Jersey) and the Hilton Americas Hotel (Houston, Texas). The company also operates the concession program at the world’s largest aquarium – The Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. With roots tracing back to 1960, Paradies is the most recognized and acclaimed airport concessionaire. Airport Revenue News (ARN), the industry’s leading publication, has named it the nation’s “Best Airport Retailer” for 14 consecutive years; no other airport retailer has won this award. Additionally, ARN has named it “Best News & Gift Operator” and “Concessionaire With The Highest Regards for Customer Service.”
About Freeman Spogli & Co.
Freeman Spogli is a private investment firm dedicated exclusively to investing with management in retail, direct marketing and distribution companies positioned for growth. The firm has established an excellent reputation for its judgment in selecting appropriate companies for investment, its creativity in structuring transactions and its active involvement with portfolio companies in pursuing value-building strategies following an investment. Since its founding in 1983, the firm has invested approximately $2.5 billion in 42 portfolio companies. The aggregate value of the companies acquired in connection with these investments is over $16 billion. Freeman Spogli’s ten principals have an average of over 25 years of relevant experience and possess a broad range of transactional, financial and investment skills. A hallmark of Freeman Spogli has been the significant amounts of personal capital committed by the firm’s professionals to portfolio company investments. Past investments have included El Pollo Loco, Inc., PETCO Animal Supplies, Inc., Savers, Inc., Mattress Giant Corporation, Smile Brands Inc., hhgregg, Inc., NEW Asurion, Winebow, Inc., Ross-Simons, Sur La Table, Inc., Advance Auto Parts, Inc., CB Richard Ellis Services, Inc., Piggly Wiggly Southern, Inc. and Galyan’s Trading Company, Inc.