The prestigious selfridge department stores sold for almost 5 billion euros
L'une des chaînes de grands magasins les plus luxueuses et connues au monde, va passer sous pavillon thaïlandais et autrichien, vendue par la richissime famille canadienne Weston pour 4 milliards de livres à Central Group associé à Signa.
A source close to the file confirmed that the amount of the transaction, which was not officially disclosed, was around 4 billion pounds (4.7 billion euros).
Selfridges, founded in the United Kingdom at the beginning of the 20th century, has 25 stores in the world, the most famous and the largest of which is on Oxford Street, the most important commercial artery in London.The operation concerns 18 sites, the Weston family retaining its 7 Canadian Holt Renfrew stores.
Central Group and the Signation real estate group "entered the final agreement for the acquisition of Selfridges Group," the Thai group announced in a press release Friday.
Stores in England, Netherlands, Ireland
In addition to the prestigious selfridges of Oxford Street, the transaction includes stores in Manchester and Birmingham, as well as the Bijenkorf brands in the Netherlands, and Brown Thomas and Arnotts in Ireland.
The Weston family had bought the brand in 2003 for 598 million pounds.It also holds a majority of the capital of the British group Associated British Foods, the parent company in low -cost clothing stores Primark.
The president of Selfridges Group, Alannah Weston, said she was "proud to pass the relay to new owners who are family businesses with a long -term vision".She trusts them to lead our "incredible team further and further".
Selfridges, founded in the United Kingdom at the beginning of the 20th century by the American Harry Gordon Selfridge, had recently suffered as most British businesses from a disaffection of stores by customers more and more seduced by online purchases.
14% of the workforce removed
This trend accelerated with the COVVI-19 pandemic, which led him last July to announce the abolition of 450 jobs, 14% of its workforce.
Selfridges also recently launched a second-hand clothing or ready-to-wear service service, to give itself a more "environmental" image, and more recently gardening spaces in its stores.
Its competitor John Lewis also wants to develop the second hand, knowing that the image of the world of fashion and luxury suffers more and more its very harmful impact on the environment.
"Together, we will work with the greatest architects in the world to reimagine with sensitivity the stores of each site, by transforming these emblematic destinations into sustainable spaces, energy efficient and modern, while remaining faithful to their architectural and cultural heritage", Adeclared Dieter Berninghaus, President of the Executive Council of Sign.
The Chirathivat family, a fortune estimated at $ 11.6 billion
"As a family, central and sign company will endeavor to offer exceptional and inclusive experiences in store and online, both for local residents and for foreign visitors," said TOS Chirathivat, CEO of Central.
Central belongs to the Chirathivat family, whose fortune amounts to $ 11.6 billion according to Forbes, and includes many shopping centers, electronics stores and supermarkets throughout the kingdom, and in Asia.
Galen Weston, father of Alannah Weston, died this year at the age of 80, was at the head of a fortune evaluated in 2020 by Forbes at some $ 7 billion.In recent years, the group has developed considerably in Europe where it already has in partnership with Sign, luxury stores in Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Denmark.
OC avec AFP
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