Two years into their partnership, Eurazeo and the founders of Ex Nihilo have chosen to open the next chapter for the French high-end perfume brand by selling a significant minority stake to L Catterton, the world’s largest consumer-focused private equity firm.
Founded in Paris in 2013 by Sylvie Loday, Olivier Royère, and Benoît Verdier, Ex Nihilo has earned international acclaim for its iconic creations, Fleur Narcotique and Blue Talisman, establishing itself as one of the fastest-growing luxury perfume houses worldwide. The company is also known for its innovative personalization services.
Under the terms of the agreement, Eurazeo will sell its entire stake in Ex Nihilo, while the founders and management are to reinvest significantly alongside L Catterton, their new partner to support the brand’s next phase of development.
“Over the past two years, our partnership with Eurazeo has enabled Ex Nihilo to strengthen its structure and accelerate growth in France and internationally. This solid collaboration has reinforced our organization and supported our expansion into new markets. As we enter a new phase of development, we remain committed to preserving the creative DNA at the heart of our House while establishing Ex Nihilo as a global leader in its category,” said Sylvie Loday, Olivier Royère, and Benoît Verdier, co-founders of Ex Nihilo.
“Ex Nihilo has doubled in scale, reached EUR 100 million in retail sales, and continues to grow through the global success of its iconic creations. With L Catterton succeeding Eurazeo as our new shareholder, we share a clear and uncompromising ambition: to build Ex Nihilo into a global luxury icon, with a strong focus on the United States and our core countries, accelerated digital expansion, as well as an unwavering commitment to creativity, quality, and brand desirability,” they added.
