Moncler, the upscale brand of down jackets and other fashionable sports and leisurewear, might be listed on Milan Stock Exchange as from November or by the end of the year. According to Il Sole 24 Ore, the important Italian financial daily newspaper, the company should submit the necessary documents to the stock exchange and regulatory authorities in September. The IPO would involve a small equity increase.
Founded as a skiwear brand in France in 1952, Moncler went through a rough patch until it was acquired in 2003 by an Italian designer, Remo Ruffini, who revived the brand. Today the company's owners are the French investment group Eurazeo, which holds 32 percent, Remo Ruffini, who also owns a 32 percent stake, the private equity firm Carlyle with 18 percent, Cathay Capital and IDG-Accel-China Capital with 13 percent, and the Brand Partners/Mittel fund with 5 percent. Ruffini and the other shareholders are currently working with banks to assess the company's value, reports Il Sole 24 Ore. A previous IPO project was abandoned in 2011.
In the first half of the year, Moncler revenues reached €183 million, marking an increase of 18 percent, with solid growth in all regions except for Italy, where sales were flat. The group owns such brands as Henry Cotton's, Marina Yachting and Coast+Weber+Ahaus as well as a Cerruti license.
