PPR add two luxury brands fold3

  PPR, the French behind Gucci and Bottega Veneta group is in the process of adding two other

Italian luxury brands into the fold, highlighting its transformation into a specialized

supplier of high-end goods.

The group, which is changing its name Kering in June, announced on Tuesday the acquisition of

Gucci Richard Ginori, a Tuscan ceramic manufacturers, who saved him from bankruptcy.

PPR is too soon to confirm the purchase of jeweler Pomellato, after he confided expected from

luxury group Prada and investment of state funds in talks to Italian Milanese brand, according

to people familiar with the matter.

Movements emphasize the transformation of PPR under François-Henri Pinault, Chairman and CEO,

sold most of its retail mass market, including spring and Redcats Group Catalog focus on

higher margin, faster growing luxury.

It also highlights the way in Italy, in the throes of a long economic crisis has become a

hunting ground for international investors, rich luxury brands ripe for expansion in Asia and

beyond.

Richard Ginori, a 300 year old company Gucci cost € 13m to save the bankruptcy court covered.

Gucci CEO Patrizio di Marco says he is planning large investments in the brand, including its

plant Tuscan.

"It had to be rescued. Gucci is a huge This is a giant of a brand like, but [Richard Ginori]

by the erroneous policy decisions more than 20 years, was injured," said Mr. di Marco.

He said that while preserving the Gucci Richard Ginori brand would also be the manufacturer of

ceramic porcelain luxury brand Gucci, a movement that consumer demand in Asia and the Middle

East leads to buy goods create luxury brand in every aspect of the house.

Cheuvreux analysts believe Pomellato with which the PPR talks for over a year, has an

enterprise value of € 270 million to € 300 million, in relatively small beer for the French

group, which recorded an annual turnover of € 9.7 billion in 2012.

But the acquisition, analysts expect in the coming days announced would be a big step forward

by PPR in the branded jewelery segment, one of the most dynamic regions of the luxury goods.

LVMH's rival PPR has started a race to acquire the group of luxury goods, jewelry houses after

staging a takeover of the Roman jeweler Bulgari in 2011.