Business news : Europe, Lafuma group ( France ) pass under the control of Luzern's group Calida ( switzerland )

Lafuma iconic French specialist sports equipment, will soon pass into the fold of lingerie manufacturer from Lucerne Calida ( Calida had already acquired the famous hexagonal Aubade) .

The Board of Directors of the company Lafuma , French specialist sports equipment difficulty and established in the Drôme , accepted the offer of the group in central Switzerland , which will allow him to control a little more than half of its capital share .

The Board accepted the financial terms of the offer Calida ( 0.00 %) to the unanimity of its members, with the exception of administrators related to Lucerne Group , announced Wednesday Lafuma . Currently , the company established Sursee holds 15.3% of share capital of the French specialist clothing and equipment for outdoor and mountain activities.

For the record, Calida , which also controls the French lingerie brand Aubade , announced in early October will hold the majority of shares of Lafuma . The financial contribution of Calida , which will occur through two capital increases in the amount of 45 million euros ( 55.5 million francs) , should allow the company established Anneyron between Vienne and Valence , strengthen its own funds.

Following a first capital increase at a price of 14 euros per share , Calida should hold 50.6% of Lafuma . Lucerne The group then plans to launch a public tender offer for the balance , then make a new capital increase . The latter , in the amount of 10 million euros , will this time be launched at a price of 9 euros per share .

Green light from shareholders

However, shareholders Lafuma must give the green light to these transactions , at an extraordinary general meeting whose date is not yet known at the moment . Calida came last January in the capital stock of the French group, which also owns the namesake brand , Oxbow , Millet, Eider and Killy .

Listed on Euronext , Lafuma generated during the year 2012/2013 , which ended in late September, a turnover of EUR 193.6 million , against 248.7 million a year earlier . The French group , which announced in June restructuring, must publish its detailed results on November 21 .

During the first half of 2012/2013 ended March 31 , Lafuma has suffered a loss of 60 million euros. The company announced in the wake of a global reorganization project , including in the loss of over 160 jobs out of a total of 1600 .

Founded in 1930 by three brothers, the company has made ​​a name for producing a camping chair . Since the beginning of the year, its chief operating officer is the Bernese Felix Sulzberger also boss Calida .

Leaded by France

Known for its brands Calida and Aubade , the Sursee's group employs,some 1600 people too. Besides Switzerland , its main market is Germany. Its sales in 2012 amounted to 203.1 million francs , down slightly by 1.5%.

In the first half , the company famous for its pajamas, her underwear cotton and " Mirror Has Two Faces " - the name of the campaign Aubade - posted results weighed down by its French holdings. Net income has dropped by CHF 1.1 million annual rate , to 4.5 million, sales increased by 1.9% to 95.7 million.

Source ats / Newsnet through lematin.ch