Chinese conglomerate Fosun International is in exclusive takeover talks with the owner of Italian luxury lingerie group La Perla.
Fosun seeks to buy a majority stake in the brand, owned by Italian entrepreneur Silvio Scaglia. The founder of telecoms group Fastweb bought the ailing group for €69 million (US$81.7 million) in a court-led auction in 2013 through family holding Pacific Global Management. With the aim of pushing the brand abroad, particularly Asia, he has invested more than €300 million in the company, founded in the post-war years in the northern town of Bologna.
With 30 boutiques, the group posted sales of €140 million this year and is expected to reach break-even by the end of next year.
A joint statement by the two companies says a deal is subject to Fosun’s approval. It says that Fosun, which owns holiday resort company Club Med, will continue investing in the brand “to develop its full potential as a global luxury fashion house”.