Belgian ToyChamp has acquired Dutch market leader Intertoys. Both retail formulas will continue to co-exist as they fulfil different roles.
“In good hands”
ToyChamp approached Mirage Retail Group (also the owner of former giant Blokker) this spring to enquire about a possible acquisition, a press release states. The two parties have now come to an agreement. “We are very pleased with this result. We are confident that the sale to ToyChamp will put Intertoys’ shops in good hands. It is a great match and both formulas complement each other extremely well. It is good to join forces in this way. The drive and experience the Nolmans family has in this market is very valuable”, Mirage CEO Ynse Stapert added.
The Dutch consumer watchdog Autoriteit Consument & Markt still has to approve the transaction, which is expected to be completed in the last quarter of this year. Financial details of the deal will not be disclosed.
No forced redundancies
Intertoys and ToyChamp each fulfil their own role in the Dutch market: there are therefore no plans to merge the distinctive formulas. “As a family business, we have a rock-solid belief in the magic of physical shopping and certainly in what can captivate children. Complemented by a strong online proposition, Intertoys fits perfectly into this strategy as a toy specialist alongside ToyChamp’s experience shops”, ToyChamp CEO Koen Nolmans emphasised.
The Intertoys management, which includes CEO Eddy Assies and CFO Jan Nap, will remain unchanged. The transaction will also not affect employment at Intertoys. ToyChamp has 41 stores in Belgium and the Netherlands and is also majority shareholder of Belgian toy chain DreamLand with 48 shops. Intertoys has more than 200 shops in the Netherlands.
