A unique global brand that exudes authenticity. That was the manner in which Ryan Cotton, a Principal at Bain Capital, described the private equity firm’s 2013 acquisition. With 1,000 regional employees, a 55 year history, and a then-estimated $150 million [1] in annual revenue, Bain’s acquistion of Canada Goose followed the traditional P/E playbook for retail brands. P/E firms identify retail brands with: healthy unit economics, 8-9 figures in sales, identifiable competitive advantage, and strong brand equity. Once acquired: these firms manage the streamlining of daily operations and supply chain, they identify efficient paths to EBIDTA growth, and they advise ways to reinvest new profits into more growth.
