Linas Matkasse closes new round of financing for continued international expansion

Stockholm, July 23, 2015 – Herkules, a leading Nordic Private Equity investor has become new shareholder in Linas Matkasse, a leading meal-kit provider in Europe. With annual sale of over SEK 1 billion and over 2 million distributed meals per month, the Swedish company has shown substantial profitable growth since its foundation in 2008. 

Niklas Aronsson founded Linas Matkasse together with his sister Lina Gebäck in 2008. In 2011 the company brought in new shareholders; Swedish Creandum and German investor Acton Capital. Over the past years, Linas Matkasse has expanded from Sweden to Norway and most recently to the Netherlands. To strengthen the company for further expansion plans in both existing and new markets, the company has taken Herkules Capital on board – an investor with proven growth success in entrepreneur driven consumer companies.

Herkules Capital’s acquired minority share implies a broadening of the shareholder group. All existing shareholders remain in the company. Together, Linas Matkasse’s new shareholder group will take the company to the next level. The transaction is carried out in July and will be closed in September.

“I am extremely happy that Herkules has chosen to become shareholder of Linas Matkasse. During the past couple of months we’ve had fruitful discussions with a number of national and international potential investors,” says founder and CEO Niklas Aronsson.

“Herkules Capital will add valuable knowledge to the company, which will enable Linas Matkasse to continue to expand even more aggressively.”

Niklas Aronsson, Linas Matkasse

 

“Linas Matkasse has a fantastic financial and brand-rate history and tremendous growth potential in the Nordics and beyond.”

Sverre Flåskjer,Herkules Capital

 

“The company’s strong innovation skills, corporate culture and strong management team impress me greatly. That’s the reason why we invested in Linas Matkasse to contribute to take the company to the next level,” adds Sverre Flåskjer, Managing Partner at PE investor Herkules Capital.

“Linas Matkasse has already proved that it’s possible to create a hyper growth company with profitability in a low-margin industry by radically changing the consumer’s purchase habits and filling a market need, says Johan Brenner, General Partner, Creandum.

Sebastian Wossagk, Managing Partner at Acton Capital confirms:  “Despite the rapid expansion, Linas Matkasse has generated ever-increasing profits. We are very positive about Herkules entry into the shareholder group and look forward to continued mutual success.”

Since its launch in Sweden, Linas Matkasse has distributed more than 60 million dinner bags. Since 2013, the company is present in Norway and started operations in the Netherlands two years later. Linas Matkasse by the siblings Niklas Aronsson and Lina Gebäck who are still the largest shareholders in the company. Other owners are the Swedish Creandum, German Acton Capital and now Norwegian PE investor Hercules.