CORE BELIEFS
We believe the best way to unlock value is to be operationally engaged with a tailored approach that meets the needs of each brand, as well as our business partners.
PURPOSE
Our purpose is to be a strong supporter of our management teams, to make our investment partners’ lives easier and everyone’s returns higher.
OUr model IS unique:
We deploy a combination of operating guidance and capital flexibility.
We are complimentary to both Private Equity, corporations and founder-led companies.
We partner in only a few select engagements.
We provide Sr. Leadership at the board level while tapping our pool of proven subject matter experts for support as needed.
CORPORATE Overview
Founded by a proven transformational leader with a 30-year track record in value creation.
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
Hands on experience with leading businesses owning multiple brands.
GLOBAL
Broad international experience in Asia, Europe, South America and Middle East.
GROWTH
Established reputation for driving market share in low growth industries, including retail footprint expansion and optimization, digital/omni-channel, brand extension and international launches.
Strategic and operational leadership
Chairman, CEO and C-Suite experience across multi-business situations and consumer categories (proven success in top-tier Grocery, Hypermarket, Health & Beauty, Apparel, and Hospitality companies).
ATTRACTING AND DEVELOPING TALENT
Strong track record of identifying and retaining incumbent talent, and skilled at recruiting key executives from the best companies.
PRIVATE EQUITY
We have over 25 years of deeply rooted, top-tier PE Firm relationships to draw on.
FIS LEADERSHIP
At the head of FIS Holdings is Glenn K. Murphy. He is an innovative strategic thinker with a proven 30-year track record of success in senior leadership roles at Loblaw Companies and at the helm of Shoppers Drug Mart, Gap Inc., and now FIS Holdings Ltd.
The business world is changing rapidly and Glenn has the rich experience base and open mind required to help management teams adapt to these conditions.
“In today’s consumer environment, winning year in and year out is daunting to a CEO. Having a Chairman to lean on for support is invaluable.”
- Glenn K. Murphy
GLENN K. MURPHY
GAP INC. | CHAIRMAN & CEO 2007 - 2014
The Gap was founded in 1969 by Don and Doris Fisher and became a leading global apparel company with iconic Brands such as Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy. In the summer of 2007, The Gap was in need of a turnaround and revitalization.
Under Murphy’s stewardship, the Company evolved its culture, simplified its operations, globalized, acquired new brands and enhanced Gap’s environmental and social leadership.
The results speak for themselves. Under Glenn’s tenure, GAP recorded a six-year Earnings Per Share CAGR of 17 percent and total shareholder return of more than 160 percent.
SHOPPERS DRUG MART | CHAIRMAN & CEO 2001 - 07
Shoppers Drug Mart is Canada’s largest health and beauty brand, currently operating over 1300 stores. In 2000, Shoppers was sold to a consortium of institutional investors led by KKR and Bain Capital. In 2001, Glenn Murphy was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the company.
Early in his tenure, he built a powerful management team through a combination of internal and external talent. This new team reinvented the delivery of health and beauty in Canada, making Shoppers Drug Mart revered globally as best-in-class while giving back to Canadian communities and causes.
In November 2001, Glenn took Shoppers Drug Mart public on the TSX. Initial IPO shares opened at $18 and hit an all-time high of $58 while Glenn served as CEO.
INVESTMENTS
LULULEMON athletica, Inc.
Glenn Murphy joined the board of Lululemon as Co-Chairman in April, 2017. Mr. Murphy became Executive Chairman in 2018 then served as Chair of the Board until is retirement in late 2023. In the time period that Mr. Murphy has held his board position and made a significant equity investment in Lululemon, LULU shares have appreciated in excess of 500%.
About the Company: Founded in Vancouver, Canada in 1998, Lululemon Athletica is a technical athletic apparel company for yoga, running, training and most other sweaty pursuits. Lululemon has continued to grow and expand and currently sells its products internationally in over 460 stores as well as online.
AIMBRIDGE
Glenn Murphy joined the Board of Aimbridge as Chairman in February 2019. FIS Holdings made a significant equity investment in Aimbridge. Glenn stepped down as Chairman at the end of 2023 passing the baton to industry veteran Steve Joyce. He remains on the Board and Chairs the comp committee.
About the Company: In October 2019, Aimbridge Hospitality completed its merger with Interstate Hotels & Resorts. The newly combined company operates under the Aimbridge Hospitality name in the Americas while using the Interstate brand for international markets. Aimbridge Hospitality now operates more than 1,400 properties in 49 states and 20 countries. Aimbridge employs over 60,000 people.
Wella Company
Glenn Murphy joined the board of Wella Company in January 2023 as Chair of the Board. FIS Holdings has made a significant investment in Wella.
FIS believes Wella's unique multiple brand portfolio along with a World-Class management team will deliver very strong returns.
About the Company:
Wella Company is a global leader in the $100 billion beauty industry. Wella Company has a top professional and retail hair, beauty tech and nail portfolio of iconic brands including Wella Professionals, Clairol, OPI, Nioxin, Sebastian Professional and ghd. The Company, founded in Germany in 1880, returned to independent operating status on December 1, 2020, led by global investment firm Kohlberg Kravis and Roberts (“KKR”).
Petco
Glenn Murphy joined the Board of Petco in May 2024 as Executive Chairman.
FIS believes that under a new CEO, Petco can drive meaningful shareholder value and return to market share gaining growth within the strong Pet sector.
About the Company:
Since its founding in 1965 Petco, has delivered comprehensive wellness solutions to millions of Pets and Pet parents. Petco was acquired by CVC and the Canada Pension Plan in 2015 and went public in 2021 on the NASDAQ.
ENGAGEMENTS
Whole Foods market
FIS Holdings teamed up with Jana Partners LLC to acquire 8.7% of WFM. This position became public through a 13D Filing on April 10th, 2017.
The 13D Filing identified multiple operational as well as governance improvements the group expected to be undertaken by the board and management of Whole Foods.
In June 2017, Amazon offered to acquire WFM for $42 per share – a deal valued at $13.7B. FIS Holdings has since exited their position in Whole Foods.
About the Company: Whole Foods Market is the leading natural and organic foods supermarket. In fiscal year 2016, the Company had sales of approximately $16 billion and currently has over 465 stores in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Bloomin' Brands
FIS Holdings teamed up with Jana Partners LLC to acquire 8.91% of BLMN. This position became public through a 13D Filing on November 20th, 2017. After value-generating actions which were reflected in an increase in the Company share price, FIS Holdings exited it's position with a substantial gain.
About the Company: Bloomin' Brands is one of the world's largest casual dining companies with approximately 94,000 Team Members and close to 1,500 restaurants throughout 48 states, Puerto Rico, Guam and 19 countries. Bloomin' Brands is a 2018 Fortune World's Most Admired Company.
Pinnacle
FIS Holdings teamed up with Jana Partners LLC to acquire 9.53% of PF. This position became public through a 13D Filing on April 9, 2018. Productive discussions were held with the Board and Management. On June 27th, 2018 Conagra Brands Inc. agreed to buy Pinnacle Foods in an $8.1B deal that valued Pinnacle at $68/share. This transaction closed in October 2018.
About the Company: Pinnacle Foods Inc. is a leading manufacturer, marketer and distributor of high-quality branded food products with a mission of unleashing brand potential. With annual sales in excess of $3 billion, Pinnacle Foods has nearly 5,000 employees across the U.S. and Canada.
GIFTAGRAM
FIS Holdings is the largest shareholder in Giftagram and is providing on-going strategic direction as Giftagram continues to double its revenue on a yearly basis.
About the Company: With a turn-key gifting platform, Giftagram focuses on the timeless act of gift-giving allowing Corporations to send beautiful, design-focused, quality gifts. Areas of expertise include Employee On-boarding, Employee Rewards, Client Retention, Prospecting, and Holiday Giving.
FIS Holdings in our Community
As a firm, FIS Holdings strongly believes in the power of philanthropy. We focus on strategic support of both globally focused charities as well as towards the needs of our local community in Toronto.
We strive to make a difference by supporting these great charitable organizations:
