Kering Reportedly in Talks with Moncler for Potential Deal

Moncler SpA could be the latest fashion brand to get scooped up by a luxury conglomerate; sources have told Bloomberg that the Italian skiwear and outerwear brand recently held a preliminary conversation with Kering SA to discuss a potential deal.

According to Bloomberg, Moncler’s shares have seen a 33% spike this year, leading to a market value of approximately $11 billion USD. An investment vehicle controlled by Moncler CEO Remo Ruffini currently owns 22.5% of Moncler, meaning the executive will be an important part of any deal-making conversations.

Moncler operates stores across the globe, with 49 retail outposts stationed in China – a key market for today’s luxury players. The outerwear brand reported that its sales for the first nine months of the year saw a 12% increase. Moncler’s success and continued relevance likely stem from Ruffini’s extensive efforts to collaborate with artists, designers and organizations through the lens of its boundary-pushing Moncler Genius initiative.

Past and ongoing Moncler Genius collaborators include Vanessa Beecroft, fragment design, Craig Green and Simone Rocha, among many others. The initiative has also recently unveiled House of Genius concept stores in Paris, Milan and Tokyo.

Kering’s lineup already includes heavy-hitters like Gucci, Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen and breakout brand Bottega Veneta, but it is likely feeling some pressure following its competitor LVMH’s acquisition of American jeweler Tiffany & Co for $16.2 billion USD. Kering’s bottom line is heavily dependent on the success of Gucci — according to Bloomberg, the luxury house accounted for three quarters of the company’s operating profit the first half of the year.

Elsewhere in fashion, a new study has reported that 60% of counterfeit luxury fashion purchases were made on purpose.