Breitling Reportedly Considering Sale
The Swiss watchmaker is currently undergoing private deliberations, sources say.
132-year-old Swiss watchmaker Breitling may soon be up for sale, according to sources familiar with the matter. Worn by the likes of David Beckham, John Travolta and Russell Crowe, the Swiss brand was established in 1884 and has modernized chronograph watches to measure sports competitions and flights. It also is known for its Emergency wristwatch, giving it a strong brand position among pilots and aviation enthusiasts. Breitling is one of the few remaining larger Swiss watch brands that are independent, contributing around 5% to Switzerland’s high-end watch market, according to analyst Rene Weber at Bank Vontobel. With the process of a potential sale still in the early stages, and there still being a chance of the brand remaining independent, Breitling is currently under advisement by investment bank GCA Altium Ltd. Although representatives from Breitling and GCA Altium have not commented, according to Bloomberg it is rumored that the “most likely suitors will be luxury goods companies rather than private equity firms.”
