The Business of Fashion
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
An ownership battle at SMCP heated up on Wednesday as major shareholders claimed a 16 percent stake in the French fashion group had been illegally transferred to an offshore account, and a meeting to force a boardroom reshuffle was called for next month.
The transfer was allegedly carried out by SMCP’s previous Chinese owner for the sum of €1 to an entity in the British Virgin Islands belonging to current SMCP board member Chenran Qiu, according to a statement issued Wednesday by Glas, a company representing SMCP shareholders.
Glas, which includes asset manager Blackrock and an affiliate of private equity firm Carlyle, said a commercial court in Britain had issued a worldwide freezing order to prevent the transfer of further SMCP shares.
Glas obtained a 29 percent stake in SMCP and 25 percent of its voting rights following the default of bonds issued by European TopSoho, a unit of the French group’s Chinese shareholder, the conglomerate Shandong Ruyi.
ADVERTISEMENT
TopSoho did not respond to an email from Reuters seeking comment on Glas’s allegation.
Glas, which wants to sell its SMCP stake, has called for changes on the board, including the removal of Chenran Qiu and her father, board president Yafu Qiu.
SMCP said that, following a ruling by a Paris commercial court in favour of Glas, it would hold a shareholder meeting in January to vote on the proposed ouster of five board members. All are linked to Shandong Ruyi, according to SMCP’s website.
Shandong Ruyi harboured ambitions of creating a luxury clothing empire and in 2015 embarked on a buying spree that, as well as SMCP — bought from private equity firm KKR in 2016 — included London-based suitmaker Aquascutum and Paris-based fashion house Cerruti 1881.
But it has struggled under the weight of its debts and its financial difficulties worsened with the Covid-19 pandemic.
SMCP, meanwhile, has seen a recovery, with third quarter revenues back close to pre-pandemic levels.
By Mimosa Spencer; Editor: John Stonestreet
Learn more:
ADVERTISEMENT
SMCP Owner Launches Legal Proceedings Against Bondholders
The owner of French fashion retailer SMCP said it had started legal proceedings against companies serving bondholders it alleged were seeking to take control of SMCP at a low price.
The rental platform saw its stock soar last week after predicting it would hit a key profitability metric this year. A new marketing push and more robust inventory are the key to unlocking elusive growth, CEO Jenn Hyman tells BoF.
Nordstrom, Tod’s and L’Occitane are all pushing for privatisation. Ultimately, their fate will not be determined by whether they are under the scrutiny of public investors.
The company is in talks with potential investors after filing for insolvency in Europe and closing its US stores. Insiders say efforts to restore the brand to its 1980s heyday clashed with its owners’ desire to quickly juice sales in order to attract a buyer.
The humble trainer, once the reserve of football fans, Britpop kids and the odd skateboarder, has become as ubiquitous as battered Converse All Stars in the 00s indie sleaze years.