Business news :Richemont Acquires Peter Millar

Richemont, the Geneva, Switzerland-based owner of a luxury portfolio that includes Alfred Dunhill and Cartier, has acquired the menswear golf brand Peter Millar from majority stakeholder Winona Capital Management. The terms of the deal, which is expected to close in October, were not disclosed.

The acquisition by Richemont will position Peter Millar for its next stage of development and growth.

“We are incredibly fortunate to have partnered with Winona Capital,” commented Peter Millar CEO Scott Mahoney. “Together we have developed and built the Peter Millar brand, expanded the product range, and grew sales and distribution. Now partnering with Richemont represents a wonderful opportunity for Peter Millar to continue to build the brand globally under Richemont’s stewardship. We look forward to working with Richemont and the association with their prestigious family of brands.”

Winona Capital acquired a controlling stake in Peter Millar in April 2009.

Luke Reese, Managing Director of Winona Capital, commented, “It has been Winona Capital’s pleasure to work with Scott Mahoney, Chris Knott, and the rest of the Peter Millar team over the last few years to help build such a great company. We are thrilled for Peter Millar to be acquired by Richemont, the finest collection of luxury brands in the world.”

The transaction is expected to close in October 2012 and will have no material impact on Richemont’s consolidated net assets or operating result for the year ending March 31, 2013. Richemont ‘A’ shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, Richemont’s primary listing, and are included in the Swiss Market Index (“SMI”) of leading stocks. Richemont South African Depository Receipts are listed in Johannesburg, Richemont’s secondary listing.

Robert W. Baird & Co. acted as advisor to Peter Millar in connection with the transaction.

Peter Millar was founded in 2001 by former Burberry rep Chris Knott, who co-owns it with former Polo Ralph Lauren golf and tennis executive Scott Mahoney. The brand initially focused on cashmere sweaters and expanded in sportswear and golf apparel. It added tailored clothing in late 2007 and is now a full lifestyle brand. The Peter Millar appellation was inspired by a gift from Chris Knott’s mother, a vintage lawn bowling ball bearing the name.

Richemont was founded in 1988, spun off of the South African Rembrandt Group Limited. Richemont owns the jewelry brands Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels; watch brands, including IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Officine Panerai, Piaget, Roger Dubuis and Vacheron Constantin; and the luxury businesses Montblanc, Alfred Dunhill, Chloé and Lancel. Richemont acquired a controlling stake in the e-commerce business Net-A-Porter in 2010.

( SportsOneSource Media )