Gifts wholesaler Paladone won a present itself today, nabbing a £13m investment from Lloyds Bank's private equity division LDC.

The firm took a minority stake in Paladone, which holds licences for brands including Walt Disney, Warner Brothers, Star Wars and Nintendo and generates 30 per cent of revenues from its own brands Purple Donkey and Scott & Lawson.

The business has a catalogue of more than 800 products and generated revenues of more than £30m in its latest financial year, 60 per cent of which was from international sales.

Read more: Roger Bootle's research firm Capital Economics set for £95m sale to private equity

“We started out as a small novelty gift company almost 25 years ago, and the commitment and hard work of our team has helped us grow to become an international firm holding longstanding relationships with some of the worlds best-known brands," said Paladone's managing director Graeme Carr.

"For us, the time is right to bring an investment partner on board."

Paladone will use LDC's investment to bring its products into the stores of US retail giants, following demand from chains such as Kohls and Target.

Carr, commercial director Yann Le Bouedec and finance director Steve Fleming will continue running the company, while LDC has brought in private equity veteran James Barbour-Smith as non-executive chairman.

Read more: Endless buys struggling iconic luggage brand Antler from private equity firm LDC

Paladone is also eyeing growth opportunities in Australia, Asia and Europe, and is investing in its online platform to help boost internet sales.

Buying a business so focused on non-UK markets could prove to be a canny move by LDC, as many fear the pound could depreciate further in the run-up to Brexit. Cheaper-looking UK products could lift overseas sales.

Read more: Private equity's push to turn Brexit positive: Equistone explains it's just another day in the office

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Gifts wholesaler Paladone won a present itself today, nabbing a £13m investment from Lloyds Bank's private equity division LDC.

The firm took a minority stake in Paladone, which holds licences for brands including Walt Disney, Warner Brothers, Star Wars and Nintendo and generates 30 per cent of revenues from its own brands Purple Donkey and Scott & Lawson.

The business has a catalogue of more than 800 products and generated revenues of more than £30m in its latest financial year, 60 per cent of which was from international sales.

Read more: Roger Bootle's research firm Capital Economics set for £95m sale to private equity

“We started out as a small novelty gift company almost 25 years ago, and the commitment and hard work of our team has helped us grow to become an international firm holding longstanding relationships with some of the worlds best-known brands," said Paladone's managing director Graeme Carr.

"For us, the time is right to bring an investment partner on board."

Paladone will use LDC's investment to bring its products into the stores of US retail giants, following demand from chains such as Kohls and Target. (more…)