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Watches of Switzerland Pays $130M for Roberto Coin Inc.
The deal gives the retailer control over the distribution of Roberto Coin jewelry in the U.S., Canada, Caribbean, and Central America.
Watches of Switzerland Group has acquired Roberto Coin Inc., giving it the exclusive right to distribute the brand’s jewelry in the United States, as well as in Canada, the Caribbean, and Central America. Roberto Coin founded his eponymous jewelry brand in Vicenza, Italy.
New York—Watches of Switzerland Group has acquired the U.S. arm of Italian jewelry brand Roberto Coin for $130 million, the U.K.-based retailer announced Thursday.
The retailer’s purchase of Roberto Coin Inc. gives it exclusive distribution rights for Roberto Coin jewelry in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, and Central America, adding a strong brand to the Watches of Switzerland portfolio in a time when jewelry brands are becoming increasingly important.
According to internal research cited in the release announcing the acquisition, Roberto Coin Inc. is the sixth-largest jewelry brand in the U.S. by sales. Its annual revenue totaled $146.2 million with profit before taxes of $30.1 million for the fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 2022.
“We have partnered with Roberto Coin for over a decade in the U.S., retailing its elegant jewelry in a number of our Mayors’ showrooms,” said Watches of Switzerland Group CEO Brian Duffy. “It is a hugely popular, growing brand, occupying a strong position in the market, underpinned by product quality, design creativity, and imagination.”
In addition to Mayors, Watches of Switzerland owns three Betteridge stores as well as online watch retailer Analog:Shift.
Currently, Watches of Switzerland carries Roberto Coin in 16 of its U.S. stores.
The acquisition will allow it to increase that number, but the company also said it intends to expand the wholesale network, develop joint business plans with wholesale partners, and grow the brand’s export market outside the U.S.
Roberto Coin Inc. has more than 400 points of sale, including independent jewelers, department stores, and jewelry store chains.
Peter Webster, who has run Roberto Coin’s U.S. business for decades, will stay on as president of Roberto Coin Inc., supported by his same team. He will report to David Hurley, Watches of Switzerland’s president for North America and deputy CEO.
In addition, the Coin family will retain a seat on the Roberto Coin Inc. board of directors.
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The retailer’s purchase of Roberto Coin Inc. gives it exclusive distribution rights for Roberto Coin jewelry in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, and Central America, adding a strong brand to the Watches of Switzerland portfolio in a time when jewelry brands are becoming increasingly important.
According to internal research cited in the release announcing the acquisition, Roberto Coin Inc. is the sixth-largest jewelry brand in the U.S. by sales. Its annual revenue totaled $146.2 million with profit before taxes of $30.1 million for the fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 2022.
“We have partnered with Roberto Coin for over a decade in the U.S., retailing its elegant jewelry in a number of our Mayors’ showrooms,” said Watches of Switzerland Group CEO Brian Duffy. “It is a hugely popular, growing brand, occupying a strong position in the market, underpinned by product quality, design creativity, and imagination.”
In addition to Mayors, Watches of Switzerland owns three Betteridge stores as well as online watch retailer Analog:Shift.
Currently, Watches of Switzerland carries Roberto Coin in 16 of its U.S. stores.
The acquisition will allow it to increase that number, but the company also said it intends to expand the wholesale network, develop joint business plans with wholesale partners, and grow the brand’s export market outside the U.S.
Roberto Coin Inc. has more than 400 points of sale, including independent jewelers, department stores, and jewelry store chains.
Peter Webster, who has run Roberto Coin’s U.S. business for decades, will stay on as president of Roberto Coin Inc., supported by his same team. He will report to David Hurley, Watches of Switzerland’s president for North America and deputy CEO.
In addition, the Coin family will retain a seat on the Roberto Coin Inc. board of directors.
Watches of Switzerland bought Roberto Coin Inc. from the brand’s namesake, jewelry designer Roberto Coin; his wife, Pilar Coin; and Webster, Roberto Coin Inc.’s president and co-founder.
The ownership of Roberto Coin S.p.A. remains unchanged, and the Vicenza, Italy-based company will continue to see the design and manufacturing of Roberto Coin jewelry.
“Today’s announcement marks a significant step change in the development of Roberto Coin Inc.,” Roberto is quoted as saying in the release.
“Roberto Coin is synonymous with design creativity, diversity, innovation, and imagination. We are delighted to have partnered with the Watches of Switzerland Group, which has a real understanding and appreciation of our unique, world-class brand and products, and can accelerate our retail strategy in North and Central America.”
The acquisition, which is complete, was all cash, with $10 million of the $130 million deferred for one year and contingent on the future probability of Roberto Coin Inc., subject to working capital adjustments.
It was financed via a new $115 million term loan facility.
Watches of Switzerland said Roberto Coin Inc. will operate as an independent, standalone company within the Watches of Switzerland Group.
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