A sensational indiscretion shakes the world of jewelry: Stroili is becoming Indian. According to what the usually well-informed Carlo Turchetti writes in Corriere Economia, Stroili Oro is about to be sold to the Emerisque fund. This is a fund founded and managed by Ajay Khaitan, an Indian with British residency. The negotiations are said to be in the final stages and could be concluded by November, that is, within 15 days. The purchase price is not yet known, but it is said to be around 300 million, more than the turnover (230 million). The Indian Khaitan has thus outbid the other two suitors of the jewelry chain led by Maurizio Merenda, which has a distribution network of 370 stores. In short, the others in the running, the Italian fund Clessidra of Claudio Sposito, which makes use of the experience of the former administrator of Bulgari, Francesco Trapani, as well as the Russians of Vtb, who are buying Roberto Cavalli, have lost the race. The sellers are, of course, the partners of Stroili: the Investindustrial fund of Andrea Bonomi (which holds 31% indirectly), Intesa Sanpaolo (12%), 21 Investimenti (i.e. the Benettons, with about 9%) and Wise sgr (about 9%). To these, with smaller shares, are added the Ergon fund, the financier Francesco Micheli and the De Noras. Last year, Emerisque acquired the Mcs brands from Permira.
