36
Fashion Jobs
ZALANDO
Head of Engineering - Emerging Propositions
Permanent · HELSINKI
ZALANDO
Engineering Manager - Emerging Propositions
Permanent · HELSINKI
MUJI
Myyjä Kodin Sisustuksen Osastolle
Permanent · HELSINKI
ZARA
Sale Assistant
Permanent · TAMPERE
HENKEL
Territory Sales Engineer
Permanent · VANTAA
ZALANDO
Backend Engineer (Scala) - Partner Tech
Permanent · HELSINKI
ARKET
Sales Advisor 10-20 Hours - Temporary Until End of September 2024
Fixed-term · HELSINKI
ARKET
Sales Advisor 20 Hours - Temporary Until End of September 2024
Fixed-term · HELSINKI
VERO MODA
Myyjä Vero Moda Pori Puuvilla Ekstratyöntekijä
Permanent · PORI
ZARA
Fixed Term Contract - 16h
Fixed-term · TURKU
RITUALS
Sales Advisor - Åland - Mariehamn
Permanent · HELSINKI
NAME IT
Apulaismyymäläpäällikkö Name IT Vantaa Jumbo
Permanent · VANTAA
JACK & JONES
Apulaismyymäläpäällikkö Jack & Jones Karisma
Permanent · LAHTI
JACK & JONES
Kesätöihin Myyjäksi Jack & Jones Iso Omena Espoo
Permanent · ESPOO
MASSIMO DUTTI
Sales Assistant Massimo Dutti, Helsinki, Part Time
Permanent · HELSINKI
ZALANDO
Senior Backend Engineer - Content Experiences
Permanent · HELSINKI
ZALANDO
(Senior) Data Engineer - Content Experiences
Permanent · HELSINKI
CALVIN KLEIN
Calvin Klein is Looking For a Stockroom Supervisor (Full Time) For Our Outlet Store, Helsinki
Permanent · HELSINKI
JACK & JONES
Myymäläpäällikkö Jack & Jones / Vero Moda Pietarsaari
Permanent · JAKOBSTAD
RITUALS
Assistant Store Manager - Helsinki - Kauppakeskus Itis
Permanent · HELSINKI
RITUALS
Sales Advisor - Helsinki - Kauppakeskus Itis
Permanent · HELSINKI
RITUALS
Rituals Store Manager - Helsinki - Kauppakeskus Itis
Permanent · HELSINKI
By
Reuters API
Published
Mar 22, 2019
Reading time
2 minutes
Download
Download the article
Print
Text size

Watches of Switzerland has further U.S. acquisitions in its sights

By
Reuters API
Published
Mar 22, 2019

Watches of Switzerland expects to make further acquisitions in the United States, which it first entered in 2017 with the purchase of jeweller Mayors, its chief executive told Reuters.




Owned by U.S.-based private equity firm Apollo Global Management, Watches of Switzerland has since opened several stores, including in Las Vegas and New York.

"Could we add other businesses? Very easily," Brian Duffy said in an interview at this week's Baselworld watch fair.

The Watches of Switzerland Group, which sells brands such as Rolex, Richemont's Cartier and Swatch Group's Omega and has more than 130 showrooms, is the biggest watch retailer in Britain and a candidate for a stock market listing.

Luxury watch distribution is undergoing major changes, with many small, family-owned businesses unable to keep up with the challenges of e-commerce, while watch brands are shutting down shops which do not meet their standards.

"If it's a quality business, the right location of stores and support from the brands, it would be obvious that we'd be open to it. Probably over the couple of years ahead, we'll do some deals in the area," Duffy said of his U.S. plans.

Watches of Switzerland, which spans its eponymous stores as well as Mappin & Webb, Goldsmiths, Mayors, Watchshop and Watch Lab competes with rivals such as Lucerne-based Bucherer, which last year bought U.S. jeweller Tourneau.

Last year the company, which has been under Apollo's control for more than six years, flagged that its owners were working with advisers on strategic options, including a potential initial public offering (IPO).

Duffy said that an IPO, if it happened, would most likely be on the London Stock Exchange.
"It would be good for our group with its size and scale to have public ownership, reduced leverage and great governance and accountability, sources of capital if that's ever necessary," he said, without giving further detail.

Apollo declined to comment.

The group's revenue grew 21 percent to 685 million pounds in 2017/2018, and its operating profit rose by more than a third to 37 million pounds, about twice the levels when Apollo bought it in 2013.

 

© Thomson Reuters 2024 All rights reserved.