WONDER (FORMERLY AMSCAN INTERNATIONAL)

Buy-Out

We completed the acquisition of the Amscan International Group of Companies (subsequently rebranded as ‘Wonder’) from Party City Holdco Inc. on 29 January 2021. Wonder is a market leading international designer, manufacturer, distributor and omnichannel retailer of party products and supplies.

The group is head quartered in U.K. and employs approximately 2,500 people throughout its global operations, which also includes Germany, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand, China, Hong Kong and Malaysia.

The business was considered ‘non-core’ to its parent company who had chosen to focus on their large US retail store footprint. The existing management team sought an investor to support a management buy-out and chose Endless as their partner as a result of our carve-out expertise and track record with consumer product businesses.

As part of the agreement, Wonder and Party City have also formed a joint venture partnership for costume sourcing and manufacturing in Asia and Madagascar.

The transaction was led by Matthew Jubb, supported by Jon Duffy.

Matthew Jubb, commented, “Wonder is a hugely exciting acquisition for us, and we are thrilled with the opportunity to back a great management team and help the business to achieve its full potential. As a market leading and global brand, the business has solid foundations on which to further grow. We are delighted to be backing Gary Panons, Joe Hennigan and the rest of the Wonder management team to deliver their exciting vision for this business and look forward to working closely with them in the coming years.”

Gary Panons, Executive Chairman of Wonder said, “Endless recognises that they have acquired a well-invested and well-managed business. We believe this is a business with fantastic potential, and we can accelerate our strategy for growth. We look forward to an exciting future together.”