Haworth unit acquires $100 million luxury outdoor furniture business
Janus-Cie-Arbor-Table.jpg

MILAN, Italy – Haworth's Italian furnishings unit, Poltrona Frau Group, is set to acquire the majority share of Janus et Cie, a Los Angeles-based producer of both contract and residential luxury outdoor furniture, with sales of approximately $100 million. Terms of the acquisition, expected to close in 30 to 60 days, have not been disclosed.

Poltrona Frau Group became a division of Haworth Inc. when it was acquired in 2014. Janus will join Haworth’s Lifestyle Design division, alongside Poltrona Frau Group brands Cassina, Cappellini and Poltrona Frau.

Janus et Cie teak table

Janus et Cie will continue to operate independently, with founder and CEO Janice Feldman retaining a "significant" equity stake in the company. In addition to Feldman, Paul Warren, COO, will retain his current role at Janus. They will report to Dario Rinero, CEO of the Poltrona Frau Group.

"Through the acquisition of Janus et Cie, we will enter the important segment of outdoor furniture,” Rinero said. “What appeals to me most is Janus et Cie’s enormous potential for expansion, as today the brand is mostly present in North America and still to be substantially developed in Asia and Europe. The value of this acquisition will therefore be reflected in the advantage that Janus et Cie’s products will benefit from Poltrona Frau Group and Haworth’s international sales and distribution platforms.”

Founded in Los Angeles in 1978, Janus et Cie sells its metal, teak, and rattan furniture through 16 directly owned showrooms and 40 sales offices throughout the world. The California company employs 240.

JAnus et Cie powder coated aluminum chair

“We are fully committed to take maximum advantage of our shared resources and priorities with Poltrona Frau Group and Haworth," Feldman said. "The solid and respected global scale of Poltrona Frau Group and Haworth will facilitate our rapid long term expansion piece offering forward as an example of superb design and superior craftsmanship."

"This acquisition reinforces our continued desire to invest in our Lifestyle Design division, which has just completed a second successful year of Haworth ownership," said Franco Bianchi, president and CEO of Haworth. "The acquisition of Janus et Cie will also offer further development opportunities for our dealers in North America.”

Privately-held office furniture maker Haworth  serves markets in more than 120 countries through a global network of 650 dealers and 6,500 employees. The company had net sales of $1.82 billion in 2015.

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Karen Koenig | Editor

Karen M. Koenig has more than 30 years of experience in the woodworking industry, including visits to wood products manufacturing facilities throughout North America, Europe and Asia. As editor of special publications under the Woodworking Network brand, including the Red Book Best Practices resource guide and website, Karen’s responsibilities include writing, editing and coordinating of editorial content. She is also a contributor to FDMC and other Woodworking Network online and print media owned by CCI Media. She can be reached at [email protected]