The Urethane Blog
August 19, 2022
Wayfair Is Laying Off About 5% Of Its Workforce
by Tyler DurdenFriday, Aug 19, 2022 – 09:00 AM
More layoffs are here, even in the face of the latest super-duper jobs number that we swear doesn’t include people taking on their 2nd or 3rd jobs just to make ends meet and catch up with inflation.
Wayfair has just become the latest in a long line of companies to pare back its workforce, announcing this morning that it was going to cutting its labor by about 5%.
In a Form 8-K filed on Friday morning, the online retailer discussed the layoffs, amidst other cost cutting measures. Wayfair “announced a workforce reduction involving approximately 870 employees in connection with its previously announced plans to manage operating expenses and realign investment priorities.”
The filing continued: “This reduction represents approximately 5% of our global workforce and approximately 10% of our corporate team. Concurrently, the Company is in the process of making substantial reductions in its third party labor costs.
The company said it was going to take “between approximately $30 million and $40 million of costs” in Q3 2022 as a result of the layoffs.
These layoffs come a year after reports that Amazon was planning with a premium service that lets customers opt to have furniture or appliances assembled as soon they arrive at their homes.
Recall, we wrote a piece just days ago helping our readers visualize all of the latest major layoffs at U.S. corporations. We noted that in June 2022, Insight Global found that 78% of American workers fear they will lose their job in the next recession. Additionally, 56% said they aren’t financially prepared, and 54% said they would take a pay cut to avoid being laid off.
In this infographic, Visual Capitalist’s Marcus Lu visualizes major layoffs announced in 2022 by publicly-traded U.S. corporations.
Note: Due to gaps in reporting, as well as the very large number of U.S. corporations, this list may not be comprehensive.
An Emerging Trend
Layoffs have surged considerably since April of this year. See the table below for high-profile instances of mass layoffs.
Layoffs are expected to continue throughout the rest of this year, as metrics like consumer sentiment enter a decline. Rising interest rates, which make it more expensive for businesses to borrow money, are also having a negative impact on growth.
In fact just a few days ago, trading platform Robinhood announced it was letting go 23% of its staff. After accounting for its previous layoffs in April (9% of the workforce), it’s fair to estimate that this latest round will impact nearly 800 people.
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/wayfair-laying-about-5-its-workforce
August 16, 2022
Cool, Sustainable, Feature-Rich Foams in Demand
Value-added offerings help manufacturers bolster higher-priced mattress collections
Value-added polyurethane foams are in high demand in the mattress marketplace, producers say. And they are adding features that today’s consumers want, such as cool-sleeping and sustainable foams and foams offering a variety of health benefits.
Producers say they have added foams and will introduce more soon to help mattress makers stand apart from the competition and to bolster their mattress offerings at higher price points.
While consumer demand for mattresses is down, the polyurethane foam producers are not slowing their efforts to develop innovative products for mattress makers, they say.
“Customers are looking for products and solutions that offer them some sort of value added,” says Chris Bradley, executive vice president of consumer products at Mount Airy, North Carolina-based NCFI Polyurethanes. “Whether that’s reduced cost or a tangible benefit such as cooling, customers are looking for an advantage.”
Polyurethane foam producers are not slowing their efforts to develop innovative products.
Read more here: https://bedtimesmagazine.com/2022/08/cool-sustainable-feature-rich-foams-in-demand/
August 16, 2022
Cool, Sustainable, Feature-Rich Foams in Demand
Value-added offerings help manufacturers bolster higher-priced mattress collections
Value-added polyurethane foams are in high demand in the mattress marketplace, producers say. And they are adding features that today’s consumers want, such as cool-sleeping and sustainable foams and foams offering a variety of health benefits.
Producers say they have added foams and will introduce more soon to help mattress makers stand apart from the competition and to bolster their mattress offerings at higher price points.
While consumer demand for mattresses is down, the polyurethane foam producers are not slowing their efforts to develop innovative products for mattress makers, they say.
“Customers are looking for products and solutions that offer them some sort of value added,” says Chris Bradley, executive vice president of consumer products at Mount Airy, North Carolina-based NCFI Polyurethanes. “Whether that’s reduced cost or a tangible benefit such as cooling, customers are looking for an advantage.”
Polyurethane foam producers are not slowing their efforts to develop innovative products.
Read more here: https://bedtimesmagazine.com/2022/08/cool-sustainable-feature-rich-foams-in-demand/
August 16, 2022
Arsenal Capital Partners Announces Final Closes of Two New Funds Totaling $5.4 Billion Fund VI Closes with $4.3 Billion and Surpasses $3.0 Billion Target Inaugural Growth Fund Closes at its Hard Cap with $1.1 Billion and Surpasses $750 Million Target
New York, August 15, 2022 – Arsenal Capital Partners (“Arsenal”), a leading private equity firm that specializes in investments in industrial growth and healthcare companies, announced today that it has completed fundraising for two new funds, totaling $5.4 billion in capital commitments. Arsenal Capital Partners VI LP (together with its parallel funds, “Fund VI”) closed with $4.3 billion in capital commitments, well exceeding its $3.0 billion target of limited partner commitments and well above the size of its $2.4 billion predecessor fund. In addition, Arsenal Capital Partners Growth LP (together with its parallel funds, the “Growth Fund”) closed with $1.1 billion in capital commitments at its hard cap and exceeded its $750 million target of limited partner commitments.
“We are extremely grateful for the support from and relationships with our long-time investors,“ said Terry Mullen, Managing Partner of Arsenal. “We achieved a gratifying, high re-up rate from our existing institutional investors, who on average increased their commitments by 59% from the previous fund, and we are delighted to have attracted an exceptional group of new investors that will further bolster our market-leading institution.”
Over its 22-year history, Arsenal has built a leading private equity institution with two market-leading franchises in the industrials and healthcare sectors. Within its two focus sectors, Arsenal aims to create highly valuable, technology- and innovation-rich, growth companies that are strategically important to their markets. Arsenal’s team of more than 85 professionals and 55 senior advisors combines specialized investment, industry, and operating expertise into one integrated and balanced team to provide differentiated strategic insights, combine diverse perspectives, and leverage expert capabilities.
“The success of these fundraises reflects the strength of our market-leading franchises and our track record of building strategically valuable businesses. We and our investors see exciting opportunities to invest in technology- and innovation-rich companies in the industrial and healthcare sectors,” commented Jeff Kovach, Managing Partner of Arsenal. “Moreover, investors have acknowledged the depth of our domain and technical expertise that provides Arsenal the access, relevance, and credibility to compete and win in our target markets.”
Fund VI will focus on investments in industrials and healthcare businesses with proven technologies and solutions positioned to deliver high performance and value-add to their customers. The Growth Fund will execute a similar strategy in the same markets but pursue investments in next generation, emerging technology businesses poised to apply innovation to generate very high growth. In both of these funds, Arsenal will apply its high-impact company building capabilities to help businesses achieve significant organic growth and facilitate strategic acquisitions to extend their offerings and to solidify leadership positions in their respective markets.
Patricia Grad, Partner and Head of Investor Relations of Arsenal, added, “We are grateful for this global group of institutions and individuals who have supported our firm and greatly appreciate the collaborative dialogue that we had with them as we crafted these investment opportunities, particularly our debut Growth Fund. We look forward to deepening and strengthening our partnerships with our investors for years to come.”
Fund VI and the Growth Fund’s investor base is comprised of leading public and corporate pension plans, family offices, endowments and foundations, and financial institutions, including The University of California’s Office of the Chief Investment Officer (UC Investments), California State Teachers’ Retirement System, California Public Employees’ Retirement Systems, affiliates of APG Asset Management, The Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund, affiliates of IIP A/S, and Minnesota State Investment Board. Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal counsel for Arsenal, Fund VI, and the Growth Fund.
About Arsenal Capital Partners Arsenal Capital Partners is a leading private equity firm that specializes in investments in industrial growth and healthcare companies. Since its inception in 2000, Arsenal has raised institutional equity investment funds totaling over $10 billion, completed more than 250 platform and add-on acquisitions, and achieved more than 30 realizations. The firm works with management teams to build strategically important companies with leading market positions, high growth, and high value-add. For additional information, please visit www.arsenalcapital.com.
Contact: Jackie Schofield at Prosek Partners Pro-Arsenal@prosek.com
August 16, 2022
Arsenal Capital Partners Announces Final Closes of Two New Funds Totaling $5.4 Billion Fund VI Closes with $4.3 Billion and Surpasses $3.0 Billion Target Inaugural Growth Fund Closes at its Hard Cap with $1.1 Billion and Surpasses $750 Million Target
New York, August 15, 2022 – Arsenal Capital Partners (“Arsenal”), a leading private equity firm that specializes in investments in industrial growth and healthcare companies, announced today that it has completed fundraising for two new funds, totaling $5.4 billion in capital commitments. Arsenal Capital Partners VI LP (together with its parallel funds, “Fund VI”) closed with $4.3 billion in capital commitments, well exceeding its $3.0 billion target of limited partner commitments and well above the size of its $2.4 billion predecessor fund. In addition, Arsenal Capital Partners Growth LP (together with its parallel funds, the “Growth Fund”) closed with $1.1 billion in capital commitments at its hard cap and exceeded its $750 million target of limited partner commitments.
“We are extremely grateful for the support from and relationships with our long-time investors,“ said Terry Mullen, Managing Partner of Arsenal. “We achieved a gratifying, high re-up rate from our existing institutional investors, who on average increased their commitments by 59% from the previous fund, and we are delighted to have attracted an exceptional group of new investors that will further bolster our market-leading institution.”
Over its 22-year history, Arsenal has built a leading private equity institution with two market-leading franchises in the industrials and healthcare sectors. Within its two focus sectors, Arsenal aims to create highly valuable, technology- and innovation-rich, growth companies that are strategically important to their markets. Arsenal’s team of more than 85 professionals and 55 senior advisors combines specialized investment, industry, and operating expertise into one integrated and balanced team to provide differentiated strategic insights, combine diverse perspectives, and leverage expert capabilities.
“The success of these fundraises reflects the strength of our market-leading franchises and our track record of building strategically valuable businesses. We and our investors see exciting opportunities to invest in technology- and innovation-rich companies in the industrial and healthcare sectors,” commented Jeff Kovach, Managing Partner of Arsenal. “Moreover, investors have acknowledged the depth of our domain and technical expertise that provides Arsenal the access, relevance, and credibility to compete and win in our target markets.”
Fund VI will focus on investments in industrials and healthcare businesses with proven technologies and solutions positioned to deliver high performance and value-add to their customers. The Growth Fund will execute a similar strategy in the same markets but pursue investments in next generation, emerging technology businesses poised to apply innovation to generate very high growth. In both of these funds, Arsenal will apply its high-impact company building capabilities to help businesses achieve significant organic growth and facilitate strategic acquisitions to extend their offerings and to solidify leadership positions in their respective markets.
Patricia Grad, Partner and Head of Investor Relations of Arsenal, added, “We are grateful for this global group of institutions and individuals who have supported our firm and greatly appreciate the collaborative dialogue that we had with them as we crafted these investment opportunities, particularly our debut Growth Fund. We look forward to deepening and strengthening our partnerships with our investors for years to come.”
Fund VI and the Growth Fund’s investor base is comprised of leading public and corporate pension plans, family offices, endowments and foundations, and financial institutions, including The University of California’s Office of the Chief Investment Officer (UC Investments), California State Teachers’ Retirement System, California Public Employees’ Retirement Systems, affiliates of APG Asset Management, The Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund, affiliates of IIP A/S, and Minnesota State Investment Board. Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal counsel for Arsenal, Fund VI, and the Growth Fund.
About Arsenal Capital Partners Arsenal Capital Partners is a leading private equity firm that specializes in investments in industrial growth and healthcare companies. Since its inception in 2000, Arsenal has raised institutional equity investment funds totaling over $10 billion, completed more than 250 platform and add-on acquisitions, and achieved more than 30 realizations. The firm works with management teams to build strategically important companies with leading market positions, high growth, and high value-add. For additional information, please visit www.arsenalcapital.com.
Contact: Jackie Schofield at Prosek Partners Pro-Arsenal@prosek.com
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