RETAIL

The Latest Investments, Bulgari, Gitanjali & Ferragamo

by

Sophie Doran

|

This is the featured image caption
Credit: This is the featured image credit

Introducing ‘The Latest Investments’ to Luxury Society readers, where we present an essential round-up of the latest m&a news in the luxury industry

Over the last decade, collaborations between luxury brands and contemporary artists have gone beyond mere artistic partnerships towards a new kind of luxury branding.

PARIS – Art and fashion have always developed side by side, for fashion, like art, often gives visual expression to the cultural zeitgeist. During the 1920s, Salvador Dalí created dresses for Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiapparelli. In the 1930s, Ferragamo’s shoes commissioned designs for advertisements from Futurist painter Lucio Venna, while Gianni Versace commissioned works from artists such as Alighiero Boetti and Roy Lichtenstein for the launch of his collections. Yves Saint Laurent’s vast art collection, recently auctioned at Christie’s in Paris, testified to his great love of art and revealed the influence of a variety of artists on his own designs.

In the 1980s, relationships between luxury brands and artists were advanced when Alain Dominique Perrin created the Fondation Cartier. In the Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemporain, a book marking the foundation’s 20th anniversary, Perrin says he makes “a connection between all the different sorts of arts, and luxury goods are a kind of art. Luxury goods are handicrafts of art, applied art.”

The Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemparain building in Paris

Introducing ‘The Latest Investments’ to Luxury Society readers, where we present an essential round-up of the latest m&a news in the luxury industry

Introducing ‘The Latest Investments’ to Luxury Society readers, where we present an essential round-up of the latest m&a; news in the luxury industry

With reports that M&A; activity in Europe, in the fashion and luxury space over the last six months has approached $10 billion, analysts expect 2011 to be a pivotal year for investments.

Following the recent aquisition of Bulgari by LVMH, Tiffany & Co, Burberry and Hugo Boss have all been tossed around the industry by industry experts as potential businesses ripe for acquisition. WWD recently reported that Richemont ‘is said to be sitting on at least $2 billion in cash’ and that the Swatch Group’s decision to cut dividends in 2009 was to ‘preserve cash to give it flexibility to acquire firms’.

Whether or not the M&A; momentum will continue at the speed of knots it has so far experienced is unknown, however it is likely to retain the attention of the luxury media as Jimmy Choo goes under the hammer, Hermès scrambles to protect itself from LVMH and L Capital expands in India and China. Luxury Society presents our monthly wrap up of investments within the industry.

Sold: Bulgari, LVMH

LVMH purchased the Bulgari family’s controlling stake in the brand for 4.3 billion euros, and will set up an eventual takeover of the entire jeweler. The Bulgari family swapped each of its shares for LVMH stock, making them the second-biggest family shareholder in LVMH. LVMH then paid out minority shareholders in Bulgari in cash.

Source: Reuters

Stake: Oscar de La Renta, GF Capital Management & Advisors

Oscar de la Renta sold an estimated 20 percent stake to GF Capital Management & Advisors for an undisclosed amount, to bring beauty and fragrance back in-house, open more stores and introduce new categories. “We believe that now is the time to bring new products to the market in a responsible way and to broaden our presence in geographical areas where we are underrepresented," remarked CEO Alex Bolen.

Source: Fashionologie

Negotiation: Rémy Cointreau Group, EPI

EPI, a family-owned group controlling JM Weston, Bonpoint, Alain Figaret, François Pinet, Michel Perry and Château La Verrerie, is reportedly in exclusive negotiations with the Rémy Cointreau Group. Discussions are rumoured to focus on the possibly selling Rémy’s Champagne division, including the Piper-Heidsieck and Charles Heidsieck brands.

Source: The Moodie Report

Launch: L Capital, China and India

Extending the reach of L Capital, the private equity fund created in 2001, sponsored by the LVMH Group and Groupe Arnault, is the launch of L Capital in India and China. Its fourth private equity fund is reportedly worth $640 million, for investments in sectors like consumer brands, lifestyle retail, media and entertainment.

Source: Mangalorean

Speculation: Prada, IPO

Reuters has reported that Prada is set to file its listing application with Hong Kong regulators by the beginning of April. Their sources revealed that the Italian luxury goods company originally planned to list in Hong Kong at the end of June, however at the time of press Prada had not made any informations public.

Source: Reuters

Sold: Gianfranco Ferre, Paris Group

Paris Group recently bought distressed Italian fashion house Gianfranco Ferre for an undisclosed amount, and intends invest an initial 25 million euros relieving the company of debt and opening 50 stores worldwide. The Dubai based group operates 25 restaurants and 250 directly-owned stores and licences for brands including Versace, Cerruti and Boss across the Middle East and Russia.

Source: Financial Times

Stake: Charles & Keith, L Capital Asia

L Capital Asia purchased a 20 percent stake in Charles & Keith, a Singaporean shoes and accessories brand founded by Charles & Keith Wong, for more than $30 million. L Capital Asia is said to have fought off a slew of rival suitors that included other private equity funds, high net worth investors and even a manufacturing firm.

Source: Jakarta Globe

Negotiation: Gitanjali, L Capital

L Capital is rumoured to be in exclusive talks to acquire a significant minority stake in Gitanjali Gems’ proposed subsidiary, that will control its branded jewellery and retail businesses. The deal is reported to be worth $100-125 million. The Gitanjali Group was founded as a cutter and polisher of diamonds for the jewellery trade, but now integrates rough diamond sourcing, cutting, polishing, distribution, jewellery manufacture, jewellery branding and retail in India and abroad.

Source: Economic Times

Sold: Hautelook, Nordstrom

Nordstrom, the department store chain, acquired HauteLook, a flash sale online retailer for designer goods, for $180 million in stock. The transaction marks the first time a traditional retailer has acquired a company specialising in online private sales in the US.

Source: NY Times

Speculation: Ferrari, IPO

Fiat boss Sergio Marchionne is reportedly considerating a floatation of the Ferrari brand, of which Fiat currently owns 85%. This is said to be a part of a bigger plan to merge Fiat with Chrysler, generating enough cash revenue to raise Fiat’s current stake in Chrysler from 20% to 51%. However will not be possible until Chrysler repay the US and Canadian governments $7 billion in loans acquired during 2009.

Source: London Evening Standard

For Sale: Jimmy Choo

Sales rumours date back to August 2009, when it was reported that owners of Jimmy Choo were considering selling the label for a price tag of up to £500 million after reportedly seeking “strategic options” from investment banks. However the brand was not officially put on the market until recently, reportedly gaining interest from LVMH and more than 10 other potential bidders.

Most recently it has been announced that Jimmy Choo intended to buy back the label he founded in 1996, which has been made more plausible by a backing from the Malaysian government.

Source: Europe Business Review

Stake: Salvatore Ferragamo, Peter Woo

Rumoured to be considering a possible floatation, Italian fashion house Salvatore Ferragamo sold 8 percent of its capital to Hong Kong partner Peter Woo and his family, and raised its holding in Chinese distribution firms but did not disclose details.

WWD

Sold: Villa Daslu, Laep Investments

Villa Daslu, one of Brazil’s top luxury fashion emporiums, has been bought by Brazilian private equity fund, Laep Investments, for approximately $39 million. Laep said its offer to purchase the Daslu brand and its assets includes $12.6 million in cash to capitalise the business and erases $26.4 million in debts that Daslu had with Laep and other creditors.

Source: WWD

Speculation: Genesis, L Capital

The recently launched India and China arm of L Capital is said to be in negotiations to buy a stake in domestic fashion and lifestyle goods retailer Genesis Colors. Genesis currently holds distribution rights to luxury brands such as Just Cavalli, Canali, Kenzo, Paul Smith and Jimmy Choo, with over 125 outlets across India. This would be the first investment by LCapital into an Indian entity.

Source: The Times of India

Sophie Doran
Sophie Doran

Creative Strategist, Digital

Sophie Doran is currently Senior Creative Strategist, Digital at Karla Otto. Prior to this role, she was the Paris-based editor-in-chief of Luxury Society. Prior to joining Luxury Society, Sophie completed her MBA in Melbourne, Australia, with a focus on luxury brand dynamics and leadership, whilst simultaneously working in management roles for several luxury retailers.

RETAIL

The Latest Investments, Bulgari, Gitanjali & Ferragamo

by

Sophie Doran

|

This is the featured image caption
Credit : This is the featured image credit

Introducing ‘The Latest Investments’ to Luxury Society readers, where we present an essential round-up of the latest m&a news in the luxury industry

Over the last decade, collaborations between luxury brands and contemporary artists have gone beyond mere artistic partnerships towards a new kind of luxury branding.

PARIS – Art and fashion have always developed side by side, for fashion, like art, often gives visual expression to the cultural zeitgeist. During the 1920s, Salvador Dalí created dresses for Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiapparelli. In the 1930s, Ferragamo’s shoes commissioned designs for advertisements from Futurist painter Lucio Venna, while Gianni Versace commissioned works from artists such as Alighiero Boetti and Roy Lichtenstein for the launch of his collections. Yves Saint Laurent’s vast art collection, recently auctioned at Christie’s in Paris, testified to his great love of art and revealed the influence of a variety of artists on his own designs.

In the 1980s, relationships between luxury brands and artists were advanced when Alain Dominique Perrin created the Fondation Cartier. In the Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemporain, a book marking the foundation’s 20th anniversary, Perrin says he makes “a connection between all the different sorts of arts, and luxury goods are a kind of art. Luxury goods are handicrafts of art, applied art.”

The Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemparain building in Paris

Introducing ‘The Latest Investments’ to Luxury Society readers, where we present an essential round-up of the latest m&a news in the luxury industry

Introducing ‘The Latest Investments’ to Luxury Society readers, where we present an essential round-up of the latest m&a; news in the luxury industry

With reports that M&A; activity in Europe, in the fashion and luxury space over the last six months has approached $10 billion, analysts expect 2011 to be a pivotal year for investments.

Following the recent aquisition of Bulgari by LVMH, Tiffany & Co, Burberry and Hugo Boss have all been tossed around the industry by industry experts as potential businesses ripe for acquisition. WWD recently reported that Richemont ‘is said to be sitting on at least $2 billion in cash’ and that the Swatch Group’s decision to cut dividends in 2009 was to ‘preserve cash to give it flexibility to acquire firms’.

Whether or not the M&A; momentum will continue at the speed of knots it has so far experienced is unknown, however it is likely to retain the attention of the luxury media as Jimmy Choo goes under the hammer, Hermès scrambles to protect itself from LVMH and L Capital expands in India and China. Luxury Society presents our monthly wrap up of investments within the industry.

Sold: Bulgari, LVMH

LVMH purchased the Bulgari family’s controlling stake in the brand for 4.3 billion euros, and will set up an eventual takeover of the entire jeweler. The Bulgari family swapped each of its shares for LVMH stock, making them the second-biggest family shareholder in LVMH. LVMH then paid out minority shareholders in Bulgari in cash.

Source: Reuters

Stake: Oscar de La Renta, GF Capital Management & Advisors

Oscar de la Renta sold an estimated 20 percent stake to GF Capital Management & Advisors for an undisclosed amount, to bring beauty and fragrance back in-house, open more stores and introduce new categories. “We believe that now is the time to bring new products to the market in a responsible way and to broaden our presence in geographical areas where we are underrepresented," remarked CEO Alex Bolen.

Source: Fashionologie

Negotiation: Rémy Cointreau Group, EPI

EPI, a family-owned group controlling JM Weston, Bonpoint, Alain Figaret, François Pinet, Michel Perry and Château La Verrerie, is reportedly in exclusive negotiations with the Rémy Cointreau Group. Discussions are rumoured to focus on the possibly selling Rémy’s Champagne division, including the Piper-Heidsieck and Charles Heidsieck brands.

Source: The Moodie Report

Launch: L Capital, China and India

Extending the reach of L Capital, the private equity fund created in 2001, sponsored by the LVMH Group and Groupe Arnault, is the launch of L Capital in India and China. Its fourth private equity fund is reportedly worth $640 million, for investments in sectors like consumer brands, lifestyle retail, media and entertainment.

Source: Mangalorean

Speculation: Prada, IPO

Reuters has reported that Prada is set to file its listing application with Hong Kong regulators by the beginning of April. Their sources revealed that the Italian luxury goods company originally planned to list in Hong Kong at the end of June, however at the time of press Prada had not made any informations public.

Source: Reuters

Sold: Gianfranco Ferre, Paris Group

Paris Group recently bought distressed Italian fashion house Gianfranco Ferre for an undisclosed amount, and intends invest an initial 25 million euros relieving the company of debt and opening 50 stores worldwide. The Dubai based group operates 25 restaurants and 250 directly-owned stores and licences for brands including Versace, Cerruti and Boss across the Middle East and Russia.

Source: Financial Times

Stake: Charles & Keith, L Capital Asia

L Capital Asia purchased a 20 percent stake in Charles & Keith, a Singaporean shoes and accessories brand founded by Charles & Keith Wong, for more than $30 million. L Capital Asia is said to have fought off a slew of rival suitors that included other private equity funds, high net worth investors and even a manufacturing firm.

Source: Jakarta Globe

Negotiation: Gitanjali, L Capital

L Capital is rumoured to be in exclusive talks to acquire a significant minority stake in Gitanjali Gems’ proposed subsidiary, that will control its branded jewellery and retail businesses. The deal is reported to be worth $100-125 million. The Gitanjali Group was founded as a cutter and polisher of diamonds for the jewellery trade, but now integrates rough diamond sourcing, cutting, polishing, distribution, jewellery manufacture, jewellery branding and retail in India and abroad.

Source: Economic Times

Sold: Hautelook, Nordstrom

Nordstrom, the department store chain, acquired HauteLook, a flash sale online retailer for designer goods, for $180 million in stock. The transaction marks the first time a traditional retailer has acquired a company specialising in online private sales in the US.

Source: NY Times

Speculation: Ferrari, IPO

Fiat boss Sergio Marchionne is reportedly considerating a floatation of the Ferrari brand, of which Fiat currently owns 85%. This is said to be a part of a bigger plan to merge Fiat with Chrysler, generating enough cash revenue to raise Fiat’s current stake in Chrysler from 20% to 51%. However will not be possible until Chrysler repay the US and Canadian governments $7 billion in loans acquired during 2009.

Source: London Evening Standard

For Sale: Jimmy Choo

Sales rumours date back to August 2009, when it was reported that owners of Jimmy Choo were considering selling the label for a price tag of up to £500 million after reportedly seeking “strategic options” from investment banks. However the brand was not officially put on the market until recently, reportedly gaining interest from LVMH and more than 10 other potential bidders.

Most recently it has been announced that Jimmy Choo intended to buy back the label he founded in 1996, which has been made more plausible by a backing from the Malaysian government.

Source: Europe Business Review

Stake: Salvatore Ferragamo, Peter Woo

Rumoured to be considering a possible floatation, Italian fashion house Salvatore Ferragamo sold 8 percent of its capital to Hong Kong partner Peter Woo and his family, and raised its holding in Chinese distribution firms but did not disclose details.

WWD

Sold: Villa Daslu, Laep Investments

Villa Daslu, one of Brazil’s top luxury fashion emporiums, has been bought by Brazilian private equity fund, Laep Investments, for approximately $39 million. Laep said its offer to purchase the Daslu brand and its assets includes $12.6 million in cash to capitalise the business and erases $26.4 million in debts that Daslu had with Laep and other creditors.

Source: WWD

Speculation: Genesis, L Capital

The recently launched India and China arm of L Capital is said to be in negotiations to buy a stake in domestic fashion and lifestyle goods retailer Genesis Colors. Genesis currently holds distribution rights to luxury brands such as Just Cavalli, Canali, Kenzo, Paul Smith and Jimmy Choo, with over 125 outlets across India. This would be the first investment by LCapital into an Indian entity.

Source: The Times of India

Sophie Doran
Sophie Doran

Creative Strategist, Digital

Sophie Doran is currently Senior Creative Strategist, Digital at Karla Otto. Prior to this role, she was the Paris-based editor-in-chief of Luxury Society. Prior to joining Luxury Society, Sophie completed her MBA in Melbourne, Australia, with a focus on luxury brand dynamics and leadership, whilst simultaneously working in management roles for several luxury retailers.

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