On January 8, after over 10 years of ownership, Proventus announced the sale of BRIO to Ravensburger. After coming into a company in severe crisis in 2004, Proventus actively drove the restructuring of BRIO which included: structural changes, business reorganization , marketing initiatives, cost savings and other efficiency measures, as well as substantial investments in developing the product portfolio and revitalizing the BRIO brand. It was a long and complex restructuring due to the difficult starting point, and also because of major changes in the toy market over the previous 10-15 years. Proventus was extremely happy that it was able to save and restructure BRIO, turning it into a fast growing and profitable company. In fact, more kids play with BRIO toys today than at any point in the company’s 130-year history.

Proventus was also proud to leave BRIO in the able hands of Ravensburger. The two companies shared a history of quality educational and scholastic toys and a strong sense of responsibility – BRIO since 1884, and Ravensburger since 1883. In addition to this shared history, the industry knowledge and experience of Ravensburger – including deep production know-how and a global distribution platform – was an enormous benefit for BRIO in its continued growth and development.

The sale of BRIO marked the end of era in Proventus’ development. Since the early 1980s, Proventus had carried out a large number of investments and restructurings as an active majority owner in companies in need of change, not least in consumer businesses with strong brand names such as Puma, Monark Stiga, TV4, Etonic, Kosta Boda and United Tiles. In all, this 30-year period included close to 80 major investments and was very successful – in terms of contributing to savings, restructuring companies in crisis, and generating superior returns for Proventus and its investors.

Proventus shifted its focus to the strategy of providing and investing in credit, and acted as a strategic financial partner to mid-sized companies in Northern Europe, building on a successful 30-year history of restructurings and complex management. Since 2002, Proventus has carried out around 80 investments in this vein through Proventus Capital Partners, and are now one of the largest non-bank credit providers in Europe managing over EUR 2 billion.