Alpine Investors Sells YDesign Group to Design Holding S.p.A, a Carlyle-Backed Design Company

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alpine Investors (“Alpine”), a people-driven private equity firm focused on software and services businesses, today announced that it has completed its sale of YDesign Group (“YDesign”) to Design Holding S.p.A., an international operating group in the high-end design market that is jointly controlled by Investindustrial and The Carlyle Group. YDesign is a leading online destination for modern and contemporary design products, offering a curated selection of lighting, furniture and décor from over 300 brands.

Acquired in 2008, Alpine and YDesign grew the business from an online lighting supplier to a global high-end market leader with over 300 brands, increasing revenue by over 10 times over 12 years. Through its in-house talent program, Alpine appointed CEO, Laura Walsh, former CEO, Sean Callahan, and Anne Berger, Chief Marketing Officer. Under their leadership, the YDesign team expanded from 20 remote professionals to over 170 full-time employees across two locations.

Under Alpine’s ownership, YDesign built out a robust sales & marketing engine to bring its products to consumers and interior designers across the globe. YDesign expanded its analytical capabilities and market footprint with a strategic add-on acquisition, becoming a category-leading online design lighting retailer for design professionals and everyday consumers alike.

“I am extremely proud of the YLighting and Lumens brands that we have built over the last 12 years, along with our strong reputation amongst customers and supplier brands,” said Laura Walsh, CEO of YDesign. “Design Holding’s extensive product knowledge, track-record for innovation, and luxury brand experience makes them a great partner for YDesign’s next phase of growth.”

“Under the impressive leadership of Sean and Laura, YDesign has built a world-class operating team with deep marketing and technology expertise,” said Mark Strauch, partner at Alpine. “We’re excited to watch the YDesign platform continue to scale under the strategic guidance of Design Holding.”

Financo | Raymond James served as financial advisor and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati served as legal counsel to YDesign.

About Alpine Investors

Alpine Investors is a people-driven private equity firm that is committed to building enduring companies by working with, learning from, and developing exceptional people. Alpine specializes in investments in middle-market companies in the software and services industries. Its PeopleFirst strategy includes a CEO-in-Residence program which allows Alpine to bring proven leadership to situations where additional or new management is needed post-transaction. Alpine is currently investing out of its $1 billion seventh fund. For more information, visit http://www.alpineinvestors.com.

About YDesign Group

YDesign Group is the leading online destination for modern and contemporary design lighting, offering a curated selection of lighting, fans, furniture and décor from over 300 brands through www.lumens.com and www.ylighting.com, including many exclusive products. YDesign Group inspires our customers to confidently fulfill their interior design visions by providing an unmatched assortment, comprehensive product information and educational content, in addition to price matching, fast shipping, easy returns and American Lighting Association certified sales and service teams. Based in California, YDesign Group serves consumers, trade professionals and commercial customers in the U.S. and Canada.

About Design Holding

Design Holding is the world’s largest group of companies in the high-end design sector, with a cultural heritage of European origin and a global presence, characterized by great geographical diversification, distribution channels and product categories. Design Holding boasts a catalog full of iconic objects designed by legendary designers such as Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Tobia Scarpa, Philippe Starck, Antonio Citterio, Piero Lissoni, Marcel Wanders, Konstantin Grcic, Jasper Morrison, Patricia Urquiola, Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, Michael Anastassiades, Vincent Van Duysen, Nendo, Formafantasma and many others. Founded in November 2018 and jointly controlled by entities from the two investment groups Investindustrial and The Carlyle Group, Design Holding aims to continue to grow in the global market, including through acquisitions. The Group currently comprises three industry-leading and mutually complementary companies: B&B Italia, Flos and Louis Poulsen, along with their respective subsidiaries.