duo and idee+spiel forge alliance for a shared future
The Supervisory Board and Management Board of idee+spiel have decided to transfer the operating business of idee+spiel Betriebs-GmbH, including all idee+spiel brands, to duo schreib & spiel GmbH & Co KG. In a second step, the shareholders of idee+spiel Fördergemeinschaft Spielwaren GmbH & Co. KG will also become shareholders of duo schreib & spiel GmbH & Co. KG in order to form the largest European toy cooperation together with the duo shareholders. This far-reaching, forward-looking decision follows the guiding principle: “Those who have the courage to take the first step write their own history and shape the future!”
Allianz offers the best of both worlds
“In order to shape the future in the best possible way for our affiliated stores, we held intensive discussions with duo in a spirit of trust,” explains Andreas Schäfer, Managing Director of idee+spiel Fördergemeinschaft Spielwaren GmbH & Co. KG, adding: "It quickly became clear that, in addition to the toy expertise of both associations, idee+spiel has proven expertise in the areas of model making, model railroads, especially with the Eurotrain brand and trading cards, and duo in the areas of stationery (school, office, stationery), creative and craft items and school bags. In the future, retailers will be able to benefit from the combined expertise of both companies as well as from expanded digitalization skills, additional sales channels and significantly expanded omnichannel marketing. In short: the best of both worlds."
Strong signal to the entire industry
Thorsten Paedelt, Managing Director of Sales & Marketing at duo schreib & spiel GmbH & Co KG, emphasizes the pioneering nature of the new partnership: "This merger not only benefits the shareholders of both cooperations - it also sends a strong signal to the entire industry. "Our aim is to establish a modern, efficient and binding cooperation that opens up additional prospects - including financial ones - for the affiliated retailers. The focus is on our shareholders: their interests and voices will be heard much more in the industry in future thanks to the new options," Thorsten Paedelt is convinced.
In the future, Thorsten Paedelt and Andreas Schäfer, who will join the management of duo, will lead the group as equal managing directors.
Next steps: Shareholder meetings & roadshow in May
The merger of the two cooperations will take place in close coordination and with a tight schedule: The shareholders' meetings of both cooperations will take place in May. The shareholders will be informed about the planned merger at these meetings.
Thorsten Paedelt, Managing Director Sales & Marketing at duo schreib & spiel GmbH & Co. KG, emphasizes the trend-setting nature of the cooperation.
A roadshow will follow at the end of May/beginning of June with stops in Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Munich, during which the shareholders of both cooperations will receive comprehensive information from the respective management teams and have the opportunity to exchange ideas. At the end of this roadshow, the idee+spiel and duo shareholders will make the formal legal decisions.
Source: www.duo.de and www.ideeundspiel.com