Marwyn in talks with French wellies maker
FRENCH outdoor clothing group Lafuma is in talks to sell Le Chameau, the luxury rubber boot maker favoured by the Royal family, to Marwyn Management Partners, the firms announced yesterday.
Le Chameau, founded by a French engineer in 1927 after hearing farmers and fisherman complaining about water seeping through their shoes, rivals Hunter wellies in its coverage in glossy magazines.
Marwyn, the listed investment firm, said it has entered into an exclusive arrangement with Le Chameau’s parent company Lafuma, and expects to reach a sale agreement within four to six weeks.
Marwyn, which listed last year, operates through 15 acquisition vehicles, the most notable one being Peppa Pig co-owner Entertainment One, which recently struck a deal to buy the Canadian film distributor Alliance.
It launched Silvercloud last year, to tap into the luxury goods sector, which has been bucking the economic gloom and which MMP believes will offer attractive returns.
Le Chameau, whose handcrafted rubber boots sell for as much as £320 a pair, posted net sales of €24m (£19.2m) in the year to September.