CDC Entreprises, the French investment fund that acquired a 14.6 percent stake in Lafuma last year, has made an investment of 2 million in Avance Diffusion through a convertible bond, redeemable in five years’ time. Among other assets, this French company owns the Degré 7 brand of skiwear, which has added a line of summer outdoor clothing, Degré 7 Colors, that is being offered for spring/summer 2011. According to reports, the funds will be used to help the group to boost its exports, which represented 42 percent of its revenues of 23.1 million last year, up by 9.5 percent from 2008. Dégré 7 alone is said to be targeting sales of 15 million this year, 60 percent of that outside France.
