PRESS RELEASE

Roissy, France
November 2, 2021

RAJA Group completes acquisition of Viking

including Office Depot Europe Contract business
RAJA Group, Europe's leading multi-channel distributor of business supplies and equipment, has
completed of the acquisition of Viking, including the Office Depot Europe Contract business, in
seven European countries: United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, The
Netherlands and Belgium. The conclusion of this acquisition from AURELIUS Investment Group
follows regulatory approvals.

RAJA Group strengthens its position in the office supplies and equipment market

The RAJA Group, present in 19 countries in Europe, is the European leader in the distribution of
packaging, industrial equipment, janitorial and sanitary products and PPE, and since the 2019
acquisition of JPG in France, Mondoffice in Italy and Kalamazoo in Spain, a major player in the office
supplies and furniture market. The acquisition of Viking allows the Group to complete its
geographical coverage, to develop its logistic capabilities with the distribution centres of Leicester
in the United Kingdom and Großostheim in Germany, and to reinforce its position in this strategic
market.

"This acquisition is a unique opportunity that is perfectly in line with our strategy of being a global
partner to companies for all their needs in packaging solutions, office supplies and industrial
equipment, with an offer of 250,000 products available everywhere in Europe," says Danièle Kapel-
Marcovici, RAJA Group President and CEO

Viking, the e-commerce brand of Office Depot Europe, expects to achieve a turnover of € 500 million
in 2021. With JPG, Mondoffice, Kalamazoo and now Viking, the RAJA Office business will cover 10
countries in Europe, making the RAJA Group the leading BtoB e-commerce player in workplace
solutions in Europe.

Priority areas for development

RAJA Group’s ambition is to revitalize the Viking brand, which for many years was leading the way in
Europe in terms of innovation and customer service. The Group will reinforce the local sales teams
and its European sales organisation to better serve international customers with a wide and
competitive offer.
The acquisition also paves the way for significant synergies in purchasing, transportation, marketing,
and sales, which will improve Viking's economic performance. With Viking, the RAJA Group will
serve over 2 million customers in Europe with 4,500 employees, with the objective of achieving a
turnover of € 1.750 billion in 2022.

“The completion of the acquisition of Viking is an important step in the development of our group. I
am pleased to welcome the 1,500 new employees to the RAJA Group team and to invite them to
share our values and our company culture. Their professionalism and experience will be major assets
to improve customer satisfaction and to create a new growth dynamic with the support of the RAJA
Group ", says Danièle Kapel-Marcovici

Raffael Reinhold, CEO of Office Depot Europe: « We are delighted that the transaction is successfully
completed, and we are now becoming part of the RAJA Group. This new set-up will further support
our strategic transformation and the Viking brand’s long-term position as a successful and leading
supplier of workplace solutions in the market. »

For photos click here

About RAJA Group

RAJA Group is the European leader in the multi-channel distribution of supplies and equipment for businesses. With 25
companies operating in 19 countries, RAJA offers the largest selection of packaging supplies in Europe as well as a
complete range of handling, storage and industrial equipment, office supplies and furniture, janitorial and sanitary
supplies, safety and security products, as well as retail equipment. The Group companies serve one million customers,
from start-ups to large multinationals, across all sectors of activity: distribution, industry, e-commerce, services, and
public sector. A French, independent and family-owned company founded in 1954, RAJA prides itself on the high quality
of its products, the expertise and proximity defining its services, and on the relationship of trust with its customers.
Headquartered in Roissy near Paris, France, RAJA Group employs 3,000 people, and aims to achieve a turnover of 1
billion 200 million euros en 2021. Since 2006, the RAJA-Danièle Marcovici Foundation has been providing financial
support to projects that promote the social and economic autonomy of women and girls in France and around the world.
Over the past 15 years, the Foundation has supported 576 projects led by 312 associations, with a total budget of over
11 million euros. For more information, visit our corporate website raja-group.com.

About Office Depot Europe

Office Depot Europe helps create great workspaces for everyone, everywhere as a leading expert in workplace solutions.
We operate in multiple countries and work closely with some of the world’s biggest brands to the smallest start-ups, and everything
in between. We have decades of experience and expertise and offer an integrated, multi-channel platform and dedicated
professionals across our main channels and brands: Office Depot and Viking. We work hard so our customers can focus on growing
their businesses while being more productive, efficient, sustainable and cost-effective. We provide them with expertise in workplace
supplies, technology, writing & machines, facilities, furniture & presentation, paper, labels & envelopes, filing & solutions and
general office supplies & mailing. Crucially we work as a trusted partner with our customers to add value to their business, often as
a single source for everything our customers need. Office Depot Europe is a trademark of AURELIUS Group, a pan-European
investment group. For more information, please visit www.officedepot.eu.

About AURELIUS
AURELIUS Group is a pan-European asset management group with offices in Munich, London, Stockholm, Madrid, Amsterdam,
Milan and Luxembourg. Key investment platforms are its AURELIUS European Opportunities IV fund as well as listed AURELIUS
Equity Opportunities SE & Co. KGaA (“AEO”; ISIN: DE000A0JK2A8), which acquire corporate carve-outs and companies with
development potential in the mid-market (fund) and lower mid-market sector (AEO). The investment strategy’s core element is
operational support of its portfolio companies with a team of almost 100 in-house operating taskforce experts. AURELIUS Group
also operates in the areas of growth capital, real estate opportunities and debt. With its group charity AURELIUS Refugee Initiative
e.V., AURELIUS provides comprehensive support for refugees on their way towards a better life. To find out more, visit
www.aurelius-group.com
Contacts presse
Raja@wechange.bz
Marjorie Rigouste : marjorie.rigouste@wechange.bz + 33 6 70 98 11 06