Léonard Joins Trilantic Capital as Operating Partner

Michel Léonard, the former CEO of the Bongrain Group, has joined Trilantic Capital Partners as an operating partner. Léonard will advise on investments in the food and consumer goods sectors. He will be the sixth operating partner to join Trilantic Capital, which is the former Lehman Brothers Merchant Banking.

PRESS RELEASE

Trilantic Capital Partners, the transatlantic private equity firm, today announced that Michel Léonard has joined as operating partner. Michel Léonard will advise the firm on investments across the food and consumer goods sectors, lending his extensive experience to help identify both new investment opportunities and to support Trilantic’s portfolio companies throughout Europe.

Michel Léonard is the sixth operating partner to join Trilantic Capital Partners in Europe. The firm is active across the energy, transport, financial services, business services and healthcare sectors.

Joseph Cohen, founding partner of Trilantic Capital Partners, said: “We are delighted and proud to welcome Michel Léonard as an operating partner. Trilantic Capital Partners is an active investor across the world in the food and consumer goods sectors and we remain convinced of the opportunities that exist today in the European market.  Michel’s experience and expertise will strengthen our capability to identify these opportunities and to support our international portfolio.”

Michel Léonard, operating partner with Trilantic Capital Partners, said: “Following our successful collaboration during the participation in and subsequent sale of MW Brands, I am pleased to formalise my partnership with Trilantic Capital Partners. I believe that private equity firms with a proven track record have a role to play in these sectors in Europe and was convinced by Trilantic’s reputation in the food and consumer goods sectors, the professionalism of its teams and their impressive expertise.”

In the food and consumer goods sectors, Trilantic Capital Partners supported MW Brands from March 2006 until October 2010, when it was sold to Thai Union; Italian soft drink producer Spumador, which Trilantic agreed to sell to Refresco in January 2011; sold Phoenix Brands, the US-branded home care products company to Lincolnshire Management in January 2011; and last October, invested in Fortitech, the US-headquartered developer and manufacturer of custom nutrient premixes for the food and beverage industries.

Biography of Michel Léonard

Michel Léonard is an experienced manager, having worked for over 40 years in the food and consumer goods sectors, which included 18 years with Bongrain, and 8 years as the head of Lactalis, the second – largest global dairy group, until December 2009. Previously, he was CEO of the Bongrain Group and has held management positions at Prouvost group and Danone.

During his 8-year tenure, Lactalis saw its turnover progress from €5.6 billion in 2003 to €9.6 billion in 2009, saw its headcount progress from 15,000 to nearly 40,000 and completed over 40 acquisitions in France and abroad.

Currently Michel Léonard is a board member of Trilantic’s former portfolio company MW Brands and also sits on the boards of cooperative group Limagrain and electricals retailer Kesa Electricals.

Michel Léonard holds degrees from HEC and from CEDEP/INSEAD.

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About Trilantic Capital Partners
Trilantic Capital Partners is a private equity firm focused on control and significant minority investments in Europe and North America with primary investment focus in consumer, energy, transport, financial services, business services and healthcare.  Trilantic Capital Partners was formed in 2009 by the former principals of Lehman Brothers Merchant Banking, where they created a strong track record of investing in and building successful growth businesses.  Trilantic currently manages two institutional private equity funds with an aggregate capital commitment of $3.8 billion.  For more information, visit www.trilanticpartners.com