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Investment fund Verlinvest, which is already Tony’s Chocolonely‘s largest shareholder today, wants full control of the Dutch manufacturer of slave-free chocolate.
“Sole control”
Belgian investment fund Verlinvest wants “sole control” of Tony’s Chocolonely, according to a notice issued by the Dutch Consumer and Market Authority (ACM). The two companies requested approval for the acquisition on 9 June.
With a 42% stake, the fund is already the largest shareholder of the ethical chocolate brand today. Last year, it acquired part of the shares from co-founder and top executive Henk Jan Beltman, who now holds 26%. There are also some smaller shareholders, including employees and smoothie producer Innocent Drinks.
Mission guaranteed
Verlinvest is the investment vehicle of the Belgian noble De Spoelberch family, major shareholders in AB InBev. The fund also invests in other well-known consumer brands and retail companies, including Oatly, Mutti, Vita Coco, Remy Cointreau, Tom & Co, Marqt and G-Star.
Just last week, RetailDetail published an interview with Tony’s Chocolonely top executive Douglas Lamont, who came over from at Innocent six months ago. In that interview, among other things, he talks more about “Tony’s Mission Lock”, a legal mechanism to guarantee the company’s mission in perpetuity, regardless of shareholder structure
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Investment fund Verlinvest, which is already Tony’s Chocolonely’s largest shareholder today, wants full control of the Dutch manufacturer of slave-free chocolate.
