French Sports Brand Le Coq Sportif Enters a New Era with a Consortium Takeover
Group intends to purchase French athletic company Le Coq Sportif - Group set to take over French sportswear company Le Coq Sportif
Get your sporting gear ready, folks! Le Coq Sportif, the French brand with the iconic rooster logo, is about to undergo a major transformation. Established in the 19th century, the brand currently employs around 300 people in France, and now, a consortium is stepping in to revive this beloved sports brand. The aim? To breathe new life into the brand and give it an international focus, while maintaining as many jobs as possible in the Romilly site, located east of Paris.
The driving force behind the consortium is Neopar, an investment company with a flair for corporate restructuring, owning a 51% stake. Iconix, a renowned American corporation that's home to brands like Umbro and Lee Cooper, step in with a 22.5% share. But that's not all; a group of investors, including Xavier Niel, sports personalities, and former Le Coq Sportif executives, hold another 26.5% stake.
So, what exactly is their game plan? Well, according to reports, the consortium intends to rekindle Le Coq Sportif's original "accessible and popular" brand identity, aiming for a global expansion with substantial financial backing to revitalize the company. Although the consortium highlights the brand's connection to Romilly-sur-Seine, there isn't a specific plan for the site beyond the broad strategy of revival and international growth.
Rumor has it that French-Swiss entrepreneur Dan Mamane has another bid on the table. Le Coq Sportif is reportedly in debt to public authorities to the tune of 60-70 million euros. This consortium takeover promises to bring exciting changes to the sports world, so keep your eyes peeled for more updates!
Key Players* Neopar (51%): Investment company specializing in business turnaround, owned by the Poitrinal family.* A group of investors (26.5%): Xavier Niel, sports personalities, and former executives of Le Coq Sportif.* Iconix Group (22.5%): American company that owns brands such as Umbro and Lee Cooper.
Upcoming Strategy- Relight the brand DNA: Emphasis on being "accessible and popular".- Global domination: Significant investment for international growth.- No explicit plans for Romilly site beyond broader revival and global ambitions.
The consortium, led by Neopar, a French investment company known for corporate restructuring, plans to reinstate the "accessible and popular" identity of Le Coq Sportif, aiming for global domination with substantial financial backing. The Council of investors, comprising Xavier Niel, sports personalities, and former Le Coq Sportif executives, is also part of this drive, with a focus on revitalizing the brand and creating a new business strategy.
