Skip to main content
BoF Logo

The Business of Fashion

Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.

Report: Richemont Considers Divesting From YNAP in Favour of Farfetch Partnership

The company is exploring options to get the loss-making online retailer off its balance sheet, France’s Miss Tweed reports citing unnamed sources.
Johann Rupert, Chairman and CEO of Richemont, seen golfing in St Andrews, Scotland in October 2021. Getty Images.
Johann Rupert, Chairman and CEO of Richemont, seen golfing in St Andrews, Scotland in October 2021. Getty Images. (David Cannon)

Getting the loss-making e-tailer Yoox Net-a-Porter (YNAP) off its balance sheet has become a priority for Swiss luxury group Richemont and its chairman Johann Rupert, Astrid Wendlandt’s Miss Tweed website reported Sunday, citing unnamed sources.

YNAP’s sales growth and technological prowess have fallen behind rival platform Farfetch, which sources its inventory using a nimble marketplace model. Its back-end technology solutions are also becoming increasingly popular with brands who wish to integrate their stocks across e-commerce and stores.

Last year, Richemont invested $300 million in Farfetch as well as backing a new joint venture with Alibaba in China. The tie-up with its e-commerce arm’s biggest rival was read by the market as an admission by the Swiss group of YNAP’s dimming prospects.

Creating a consortium in which Farfetch and Alibaba could become minority backers in YNAP is one option being explored by Richemont, the Miss Tweed report said. The possibility for Farfetch to take over e-commerce and omni-channel services for the group’s brands including jewellery giant Cartier would be a key bargaining chip to secure its participation in such a deal, according to the report.

ADVERTISEMENT

Richemont could also seek to sell YNAP outright or invest further in turning it around. But the most obvious potential buyer, Farfetch, has already rebuffed Richemont’s approaches for an outright sale, the report said. The latter option would likely require several hundred million dollars in further investment.

A spokesperson for Richemont declined to comment on the report.

Learn more:

Why Is Everyone Betting on Farfetch

Yoox used to be a major technology provider, but over the years partners have defected from the platform.

© 2024 The Business of Fashion. All rights reserved. For more information read our Terms & Conditions

More from Luxury
How rapid change is reshaping the tradition-soaked luxury sector in Europe and beyond.

Kering Profits to Plummet 40-45% in First Half

The guidance was issued as the French group released first-quarter sales that confirmed forecasts for a slowdown. Weak demand in China and poor performance at flagship Gucci are weighing on the group.


Can Kering Turn Things Around?

As the French luxury group attempts to get back on track, investors, former insiders and industry observers say the group needs a far more drastic overhaul than it has planned, reports Bloomberg.


view more

Subscribe to the BoF Daily Digest

The essential daily round-up of fashion news, analysis, and breaking news alerts.

The Business of Fashion

Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
CONNECT WITH US ON
The Business of Beauty Global Awards - Deadline 30 April 2024
© 2024 The Business of Fashion. All rights reserved. For more information read our Terms & Conditions, Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy and Accessibility Statement.
The Business of Beauty Global Awards - Deadline 30 April 2024