Histoire d'Or

With the shopping in Germany, Thom Europe become the first European group of the jewelry.
It may be that the jewelry industry is less bright than once and that some brands are not healthy (as, in Italy, was the case of Chimento). But there is also a jewelry company that get wonderfully. It is the story of Thom Europe: the group announced that it climbed to the top step of the podium in the Old Continent, thanks to the acquisition previously announced Stroili and, now, a chain of jewelers in Germany. About Stroili we said (here): it is the first chain of distribution of jewelery products and watches in Italy, with more than 370 shops and a turnover of 213 million Euros. Stroili was owned by private equity funds and investment companies: Investindustrial and L. Catterton (ex-The Capital), which includes 21 investment, Ergon Capital, Wise and Neuberger Berman.
It was less well known, however, that Thom Europe was gaining in parallel the German chain jewelry Oro Vivo. Oro Vivo generated a turnover of 18 million Euros in 2015, with 38 stores to its credit.
Hollande between Thom parents
Thom Europe, becomes, in short, the first large group of jewelry easy to wear. The French group is owned by private equity funds and, in part, to the management. The largest shareholder is Bridgepoint, which runs something like 12.9 billion Euros and companies that employ a total of 90,000 employees (among other things the perfumeries Limoni, in Italy). Thom Europe sees as shareholders also funds Apax Partners and its operating arm on the stock exchange, Altamir, as well as Qualium Investissement, which is a subsidiary of the Caisse des Dépôts, c’est to say the French State, at the time represented by Monsieur le président François Hollande. In a nutshell, the jewelry is a treasure that like a lot, except maybe to Italians investors, as evidenced by the case of Clessidra, which after the sudden death of its founder, Claudio Sposito, has seen fit to sell Buccellati, defeating the draft constitution of first pole of Italian luxury.
A consolidated expansion
But back to Thom. The new operations, the statement said the company, will allow Thom Europe to become the convergence of three major platform of affordable jewelery accessible markets in Europe, which is still fragmented. The enlarged group, whose turnover pro forma will exceed 620 million Euros, will count about one thousand outlets and e-commerce sites in France, Italy, Germany and Belgium, and will have more than 5,000 employees, employed by six brands and signs that enjoy a great reputation nationally (Histoire d’Or, Marc Orian, Tresor, Stroili Gold, Franco Jewels and Gold Vivo). The group thus will benefit from important synergies related to the new dimension, particularly in the context of supplies (purchasing and logistics) and in the field of realization of e-commerce platform.
Some opening quote
Some official comments: “I am particularly proud of the team, which, led by Romain Peninque, involving the group in key strategic developments that allow him today to occupy the first place in Europe and offer the particularly attractive growth prospects in the years ahead , “he annotated Eric Belmonte, president Thom Europe.
“After the consolidation of the French market, the group has become the natural actor to consolidate the European market,” added Romain Peninque, general manager of Thom Europe. “Italy and Germany, along with France, are the most important markets in Europe in the field of jewelry at affordable prices. It is therefore with great enthusiasm that we welcome Stroili and Oro Vivo Thom Europe within the group, and we are pleased to thus become the market leader in Europe. ”
“The Stroili team is pleased to be part of the group Thom Europe to create the European leader of the jewelry at affordable prices. Stroili enjoys a presence and compelling brand presence on the Italian market. From now on you can count, to accelerate its growth, the savoir-faire and the innovative tools of Thom Europe team, in particular in relation to the development of its offer e-commerce, “noted Maurizio Merenda, general manager of Stroili.