The current owners of Pronovias company have initiated the sale process. Bain Capital and MV Credit, shareholders in the bridal fashion since the debt conversion they carried out two years ago following the exit of BC Partners, have put the firm up for sale amid several years of losses and capital injections intended to avert insolvency, as reported by El Confidencial.
Bain Capital and MV Credit begin the sale process for the bridal fashion company. – Pronovias
The move comes six months after both funds undertook a €193 million reduction in the share capital of Catiberia Acquisition Holdco, the holding company that consolidates all of Pronovias’ business. This followed a €211 million injection in 2023 to reduce debt and restore equity, enabling accumulated losses to be offset and bolstering corporate stability.
On the financial front, the group posted turnover of around €135 million in its most recent financial year, against losses of about €130 million. The company’s total indebtedness stood at roughly €175 million, and working capital remains negative, reflecting its challenging financial position since BC Partners’ acquisition in 2017 and the pandemic’s impact on the bridal sector. Although successive capital injections have mitigated some of the risk, the group has continued to report negative results and remains heavily reliant on shareholder support.
To manage the sale, Bain Capital and MV Credit have retained Rothschild in the UK, which in recent months has held preliminary discussions with funds specialising in special situations, including PHI Industrial, the current owner of the Spanish artisanal porcelain brand Lladró. None of these talks has yet borne fruit, prompting the company to adjust its asking price.
The transaction coincides with a period of internal transition for Pronovias. In July, the company appointed Cristina Alba Ochoa as its new chief executive, following the departure of Marc Calabia, who had held the role since 2023, to pursue new professional opportunities. Under her leadership, the group is executing a strategic repositioning plan focused on refreshing the brand image, new collaborations, and a 2025-2027 roadmap that prioritises internationalisation and the expansion of the El Prat del Llobregat showroom.
The Barcelona-based group currently has a portfolio that includes the firms Pronovias, Vera Wang Bride, House of St Patrick, White One, Nicole Milano and Lady Bird. The company’s collections are currently distributed through more than 4,000 points of sale across 105 countries worldwide.
The demerger of Unilever‘s ice cream division, to be named ‘The Magnum Ice Cream Company,’ which had been delayed in recent months by the US government shutdown, will finally go ahead on Saturday, the British group announced.
Reuters
Unilever said in a statement on Friday that the admission of the new entity’s shares to listing and trading in Amsterdam, London, and New York, as well as the commencement of trading… is expected to take place on Monday, December 8.
The longest federal government shutdown in US history, from October 1 to November 12, fully or partially affected many parts of the federal government, including the securities regulator, after weeks without an agreement between Donald Trump‘s Republicans and the Democratic opposition.
Unilever, which had previously aimed to complete the demerger by mid-November, warned in October that the US securities regulator (SEC) was “not in a position to declare effective” the registration of the new company’s shares. However, the group said it was “determined to implement in 2025” the separation of a division that also includes the Ben & Jerry’s and Cornetto brands, and which will have its primary listing in Amsterdam.
“The registration statement” for the shares in the US “became effective on Thursday, December 4,” Unilever said in its statement. Known for Dove soaps, Axe deodorants and Knorr soups, the group reported a slight decline in third-quarter sales at the end of October, but beat market expectations.
Under pressure from investors, including the activist fund Trian of US billionaire Nelson Peltz, to improve performance, the group last year unveiled a strategic plan to focus on 30 power brands. It then announced the demerger of its ice cream division and, to boost margins, launched a cost-saving plan involving 7,500 job cuts, nearly 6% of the workforce. Unilever’s shares on the London Stock Exchange were steady on Friday shortly after the market opened, at 4,429 pence.
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Burberry has named a new chief operating and supply chain officer as well as a new chief customer officer. They’re both key roles at the recovering luxury giant and both are being promoted from within.
Matteo Calonaci becomes chief operating and supply chain officer, moving from his role as senior vice-president of strategy and transformation at the firm.
In his new role, he’ll be oversee supply chain and planning, strategy and transformation, and data and analytics. He succeeds Klaus Bierbrauer, who’s currently Burberry supply chain and industrial officer. Bierbrauer will be leaving the company following its winter show and a transition period.
Matteo Calonaci – Burberry
Meanwhile, Johnattan Leon steps up as chief customer officer. He’s currently currently Burberry’s senior vice-president of commercial and chief of staff. In his new role he’ll be leading Burberry’s customer, client engagement, customer service and retail excellence teams, while also overseeing its digital, outlet and commercial operations.
Both Calonaci and Leon will join the executive committee, reporting to Company CEO Joshua Schulman.
JohnattanLeon – Burberry
Schulman said of the two execs that the appointments “reflect the exceptional talent and leadership we have at Burberry. Both Matteo and Johnattan have been instrumental in strengthening our focus on executional excellence and elevating our customer experience. Their deep understanding of our business, our people, and our customers gives me full confidence that their leadership will help drive [our strategy] Burberry Forward”.
Traditional and occasion wear designer Puneet Gupta has stepped into the world of fine jewellery with the launch of ‘Deco Luméaura,’ a collection designed to blend heritage and contemporary aesthetics while taking inspiration from the dramatic landscapes of Ladakh.
Hints of Ladakh’s heritage can be seen in this sculptural evening bag – Puneet Gupta
“For me, Deco Luméaura is an exploration of transformation- of material, of story, of self,” said Puneet Gupta in a press release. “True luxury isn’t perfect; it is intentional. Every piece is crafted to be lived with and passed on.”
The jewellery collection features cocktail rings, bangles, chokers, necklaces, and statement evening bags made in recycled brass and finished with 24 carat gold. The stones used have been kept natural to highlight their imperfect and unique forms and each piece in the collection has been hammered, polished, and engraved by hand.
An eclectic mix of jewels from the collection – Puneet Gupta
Designed to function as wearable art pieces, the colourful jewellery echoes the geometry of Art Deco while incorporating distinctly South Asian imagery such as camels, butterflies, and tassels. Gupta divides his time between his stores in Hyderabad and Delhi and aims to bring Indian artistry to a global audience while crafting a dialogue between designer and artisan.