Major stationary chain Flying Tiger Copenhagen, which has a location at the Bullring in Birmingham, has been saved in a rescue deal by private equity firm Modella Capital, the owner of TG Jones (WH Smith). The acquisition secures the future of its 80 UK stores and hundreds more across Europe.
Details of the Rescue Deal
Flying Tiger Copenhagen, known for its Scandinavian-inspired homewares, gifts, and stationary ranges, operates approximately 900 stores worldwide. The chain reported a turnover of more than 5.2 billion Danish krone (£600 million) in 2024 before undergoing a restructuring in early 2025.
Joseph Price, managing director of Modella Capital, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition, stating: “Flying Tiger Copenhagen is a hugely exciting opportunity for Modella Capital. With its strong retail brand and a unique product offering that has built a loyal customer base across more than 40 countries, Flying Tiger Copenhagen is a business with tremendous potential. We are pleased to be investing in its future, and we look forward to working closely with the management team to provide the stability, capital and retail expertise the business needs to fulfil its growth plan.”
John Dueholm, chair of Flying Tiger Copenhagen, added: “Flying Tiger Copenhagen has made strong progress in recent years. Throughout the process, we have been focused on finding the right long-term owner for the business, and we believe Modella Capital is very well placed as the new majority shareholder to support the company’s continued development.”
Claire's Accessories Revival
The rescue follows Modella Capital's earlier decision to place Claire's Accessories into administration this year. However, the budget accessories retailer, which has its headquarters in Birmingham, is set to make a comeback on high streets next month. According to reports, Claire's plans to open 50 new stores across the UK in a revival led by the owner of its European outlets.
Julien Jarjoura, the French entrepreneur who runs Claire's Accessories branches in France, Austria, Portugal, and Spain, announced on Friday that he will be stepping in to save the day. Jarjoura stated: “I feel so sad when I see such a nice business going down. The brand was basically dead and we're bringing it back to life.” He revealed that he has already started signing leases with British landlords and aims to open between four and 10 new stores every week from June.
Jarjoura added: “A lot of people think Claire's is a British brand. It is extremely famous in the UK and there is no way it is going away.”
