Ahlers acquires Rousseau

By

Bruno Joly

Published
Oct 30, 2014

Ahlers is continuing to pursue a strategy focused on upscale brands. The German men’s ready-to-wear company, which has long held licenses for Pierre Cardin, has taken a logical next step in acquiring the company Rousseau SAS along with its licenses for Pierre Cardin’s shirts, knitwear and apparel for the French and Belgian markets. 

The acquisition was carried out via Ahler’s French subsidiary, Ahlers Premium France, which is gaining 27 employees, 15 department store shop-in-shops and two outlets (Roubaix and Troyes). In liquidation since July, the French shirt brand had seen its sales decline by more than half in ten years.

Ahlers has not specified what will happen to Rousseau’s own brands, including the eponymous Rousseau and especially Pierre Clarence, whose website has simply stated that it has closed for reasons "beyond its control". According to sources, moreover, the majority of the 15 shops-in-shops mentioned are dedicated to Pierre Clarence. 

"Pierre Cardin is a global brand and, out of our portfolio, the one that has seen the greatest success,” said president Stella Ahlers.

For several seasons, Ahlers has focused on developing its premium division. The company generates 65% of its business through Otto Kern, Pierre Cardin and Baldessarini.

During the first nine months of its fiscal year, which began on December 1, its total sales rose by 8.2% to nearly 198 million euros, 128.6 million of which came from its premium division, with 53 million for jeans and workwear and finally 16.3 million for sportswear. Ahlers saw its earnings before interest, tax and non-recurring costs jump by 64% to 13.8 million.