Ergon Capital Partners III acquires 75% of Golden Goose

By

Dominique Muret

Published
May 20, 2015

Golden Goose Deluxe Brand (GGDB) has changed hands. In a statement, the company announced that Ergon Capital Partners III has become "a majority shareholder" in the company. The Belgian investment fund Baron Albert Frère has acquired a 75% stake in Golden Goose from the Italian fund APD Capital and its co-investor, Riello Investimenti.

The details of the transaction have not been disclosed. But, according to estimates, the operation is estimated at a little over 80 million euros, while the company is valued at around 130 million euros, from which 20 million in debt must be subtracted.

DGPA set its sights on Golden Goose at the end of 2013, acquiring a 75% stake for an estimated 45 million dollars, increasing its capital by nearly 20 million. 

The remaining 25% stake remains in the hands of the brand’s founders Alessandro Gallo and Francesca Rinaldo, as well as DGPA CEO Roberta Benaglia, who is also president of Golden Goose. The latter will continue to serve as CEO of the label, which shows a great degree of potential in terms of development in the accessible luxury segment. Alessandro Gallo and Francesca Rinaldo, meanwhile, will remain on as a creative directors.

"Golden Goose is already an amazing success story that we believe can be replicated on a larger
scale going forward," said Emanuele Lembo, managing partner of Ergon Capital Advisors Italy. Ergon Capital is already present in Italy through a small stake it owns in the jewelry store chain Stroili Oro. 

Founded in 2000, Venetian ready-to-wear brand for men and women Golden Goose has become a cult name in recent years followed closely by fashion fans for its rather cool style as well as for the quality of its products. 

The apparel, footwear, and accessories label has notably been a pioneer in the use of "worn-in" effects given to its leatherwear pieces (jackets and footwear), and is especially appreciated for its original sneaker collections featuring a signature star.

In 2014, GGDB generated a turnover of 48 million euros, up 60% as compared to 2013, 50% of which was generated abroad in key markets such as Japan, South Korea, France, Germany, Benelux and the United States. It plans to reach 73 million in 2015. 

The brand is distributed through three showrooms (Milan, Paris, New York) in 600 leading multibrand stores around the world, as well as through monobrand retail locations. It also has directly-managed stores (Milan, Amsterdam, Paris, New York, Beirut, Tokyo, Seoul), as well as corners in France, South Korea and Japan.

€1 = $1.11/£0.72