Lekolar acquires Leika. Lekolar, the 3i-backed leading pan-Nordic provider of educational products and furniture to pre-schools and schools, is pleased to announce that it has signed an agreement to acquire Leika, the Danish provider of educational products, furniture and playground products to primarily pre-schools.

With a turnover of 88 MDKK, Leika has 41 employees and has been a key supplier in the Danish pre-school market since 1980. The company also operates sales subsidiaries in Norway and Sweden. Following the merger with Danske Legeplatser in 2007, Leika is also a leading supplier in the Playground segment.

Fredrik Asplund, Group CEO of Lekolar says: “The combination will create a compelling proposition for customers and suppliers who will benefit from greater scale and the broadest product range in the Danish market. The acquisition consolidates Lekolar and Leika’s leading positions in educational products, toys and arts & crafts and the furniture segment for pre-schools, but also includes Leika’s successful Playground business. We are excited about combining forces with Leika as this will support sustainable growth of Lekolar in Denmark and the Nordics.”

The founding shareholders of Leika are fully committed to the transaction and will assume new roles within the organisation. Jakob Münter, former COO of Leika, will become the new Country Manager for Denmark and Bent Bruun, former CEO of Leika, will lead the new Nordic Playground business unit.

Jakob Münter, Country Manager of Lekolar Denmark says: “As a combined company, Leika and Lekolar will be able to share best practice and expertise with a common goal to better serve our clients. I am looking forward to bringing together the best of both companies to build a long-term and sustainable business in Denmark and we are very glad to become a part of the Lekolar family!”

Bent Bruun, Playground Manager says: “I am looking forward to build a new Nordic business unit within Lekolar based on Leika’s Playground business in Denmark and Lekolar’s Playground offering in Norway. The opportunities that come with being part of a broader Nordic Group will accelerate the growth of the Playground business and our ambition is to become the leading distributor of Playground products and solutions in the Nordics.” 

Conditionality

The transaction is expected to be completed before the end of June. Integration into one corporate structure will begin following the close of the transaction.

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Notes to Editors

About Lekolar:
Lekolar is the leading supplier of educational and learning material, furniture, toys, stationery and arts & crafts to pre-schools and secondary schools in the Nordics. We have the widest selection on the market with around 20,000 selected products – comprising both brand names and our own products. Lekolar is active in Norway, Denmark, Finland and Sweden. Head office is located in Osby, in the south of Sweden, and the group has its own purchasing office in Shanghai, China. The company has around 280 employees.

About Leika: 
Leika has since 1980 delivered high quality toys and furniture to institutions for children of all ages in Denmark. Leika has a leading brand in the pre-school market, especially in the furniture segment with own design in the Hukit and Leika brands. Since 2007, following the merger with Danske Legeplatser, Leika is also a leading supplier in the Playground segment. The company operates sales subsidiaries in Norway and Sweden and has a total of 41 employees.