Veraison Capital, a Swiss investment firm, has reportedly acquired a 16.31 percent stake in Calida Holding, the Swiss clothing company that is the majority shareholder of the Lafuma group. Established two years ago, Veraison is known as an active shareholder, specializing in what it describes as companies that are under-rated or misunderstood by the capital markets. The stake was purchased from Micalux, an investment firm from Luxembourg, which was the second-largest shareholder in Calida after the Kellenberger family, with a share of 34.5 percent. Micalux is the shareholder that attempted and failed to install Felix Sulzberger, Calida's former chief executive, on its supervisory board, at the group's latest annual shareholders' meeting. Sulzberger stepped down after 14 years at the helm, due to disagreements over the group's strategic direction. With the sale to Veraison, at a reported price of 43 million Swiss francs (€40.0m-$42.7m), Micalux has divested its entire stake in Calida. Reiner Pichler, who replaced Sulzberger as chief executive, told Textilwirtschaft that the group welcomed the new shareholder.

Topics