Morphosis Capital, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and CEECAT Capital have exited La Cocos following a sale to companies of Schwarz Group.

The transaction marks the full exit of the investor consortium, which backed the Romanian hypercash retailer in August 2024 to accelerate national expansion.

Within one year of investment, La Cocos expanded from three to seven stores. In 2025, the company generated revenues of €298m, equivalent to approximately $328m, up from €227m, or roughly $250m, in 2024.

The growth underscores the appeal of value-focused retail formats in Central and Eastern Europe. During the holding period, the investors supported store rollout, operational scaling, and capital structuring to position the business for a strategic sale.

Simona Gemeneanu, Partner at Morphosis Capital, said the firm saw “a business model built for today’s consumer realities, led by a visionary entrepreneur with a clear opportunity to create real momentum.”

For CEECAT Capital and the EBRD, the exit reflects continued appetite from strategic buyers for scaled regional platforms in defensive consumer segments.

Founder Iulian Nica will remain in place, and La Cocos will continue operating under its established hypercash model. Under Schwarz Group ownership, the retailer is expected to accelerate its domestic footprint and potentially expand internationally.

The deal highlights sustained strategic interest in high-growth, value retail assets across Central and Eastern Europe, even amid broader private equity exit headwinds.

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