Bogner: four hopefuls for a takeover?

Bogner may be taken over by an investment firm. According to the specialised press SGI Europe, Permira, Bridgepoint, Capvis and Korean firm NXMH are the top runners to take over the German group, known for its upscale ski jackets and suits.

Last summer, the Bogner family, still at the head of the group founded in 1932 by Willy Bogner, gave Goldman Sachs a mandate to seek out possible buyers for the group. The group posted revenue of more than 240.5 million euros in 2012-2013, including licenses, generated with 6,500 retailers around the world. Its consolidated revenue for the period was 187.7 million euros.

Today it is valued at between 250 and 300 million euros. According to the Handelsblatt, the Bogner family was expecting double that amount but the financial crisis in Russia, where the brand has a strong presence, has had an impact on its profitability. The group is backed by the four brands Bogner, Sônia Bogner, Bogner Fire+Ice and Bogner Jeans.

Among the possible candidates, Permira lists Hugo Boss, Cortefiel and Dr Martens in its portfolio. European Bridgepoint has Histoire d'Or and English label Fat Face in its portfolio. German Capvis, with its offices in Switzerland and Germany, last year invested in the recovery of Arena. Finally, Korean investment firm NXMH (attached to the NXC group), which has had an office in Brussels for three years, took control of the Norwegian Stokke in 2013.

Bogner: four hopefuls for a takeover?

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