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Quality Gold Acquires Herco
Herco President Reuven Itelman is retiring and selling the company, which will relocate to Ohio from California.
Quality Gold has announced plans to acquire Herco, the San Francisco-based jewelry wholesaler founded in 1979 that specializes in higher-end 14- and 18-karat gold and platinum jewelry.
Fairfield, Ohio—Quality Gold has made another acquisition.
The jewelry wholesaler and distributor announced late Thursday it is buying Herco Jewelry Company, the San Francisco-based wholesaler started by the Itelman family in 1979.
Herco President Reuven Itelman is retiring and said he wanted to find a buyer that would keep the Herco name alive.
He believes he found that in Quality Gold.
“In speaking with and getting to know [Quality Gold co-founder and CEO] Michael Langhammer, I have complete confidence that the long-lasting Herco reputation that has been important to me is now in good hands with Quality Gold. Quality Gold has a strong relationship with independent jewelers and a plan for Herco to live on,” Itelman said.
For Quality Gold, the acquisition of Herco gives it the ability to distribute more 18-karat gold and platinum jewelry and tap into Herco’s network of luxury independent retailers, all while still offering jewelry under the Herco brand.
Herco generated more than $25 million in revenue (unaudited) in its latest fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 2022.
Quality Gold Chief Operating Officer Jason Langhammer called it a “smart and strong addition” for the company.
“We expect as a result of this transaction, there is the potential for significant synergies that will make Herco, and by extension Quality Gold, stronger companies. We look forward to building upon their success and continuing to offer the Herco brand to retailers,” he said.
Terms of the transaction are not being disclosed.
Quality Gold will begin fulfilling Herco orders in mid- to late February and will honor all current retailer memos, the company confirmed.
Over time, Herco’s operations will move from San Francisco to Quality Gold’s headquarters in Fairfield, Ohio, a Cincinnati suburb. Quality Gold said information is not available at this time as to whether it will retain any of Herco’s employees.
The deal is expected to be completed by mid-February.
“I am incredibly grateful to the entire jewelry community that my family and I have had the pleasure to be part of for 43 years,” Itelman said.
“Over the years, I’ve developed relationships with manufacturers and retailers worldwide. There is nothing more beautiful than the jewelry business. It is where art, engineering, and design come together. It has given me great fulfillment in my life, and I’ve learned so much from others who care deeply about this industry.”
The pending purchase of Herco is the latest in a series of acquisitions for Quality Gold, which most recently bought IBGoodman Manufacturing Co.
Last fall, Quality Gold announced plans to go public via a merger with Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) Tastemaker Acquisition Corp.
That deal is expected to close sometime in the first quarter of 2023.
Once it does, Quality Gold will become Quality Gold Holdings Inc. and trade on the Nasdaq stock exchange under the ticker symbol “QGLD.”
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