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Pandora takes over Middle East distribution
Pandora will now distribute its own jewelry in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman after acquiring 100 percent of Pan ME A/S, the company that distributes the brand’s products there.
Copenhagen, Denmark--Pandora will now distribute its own jewelry in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman after acquiring 100 percent of Pan ME A/S, the company that distributes the brand’s products there.
According to an announcement made Monday by Pandora, the agreement, which is subject to certain conditions, means that Pandora will enter the Middle East markets directly and add to its retail chain the 10 concept stores in the UAE and the three distributor stores located in Bahrain, Qatar and Oman.
Pan ME A/S recorded sales of $16.6 million in 2013. Pandora paid Pan ME A/S a one-time cash payment of $20.2 million in connection with the acquisition.
Pandora said Dubai, United Arab Emirates, will be its future headquarters for activities in the Middle East as well as North Africa.
The Copenhagen-based brand has been selling in the Middle East since 2010 and the agreement is “in line with [Pandora’s] strategy to expand geographically as well as maintaining the control over our brand,” CEO Allan Leighton said.
Peter Mark, president of Pandora Central Eastern Europe and the Middle East, said the region is one which “holds great potential for Pandora.”
RELATED CONTENT: Pandora acquires distribution rights in Brazil
This is the second international acquisition for Pandora in six months. In September, Pandora bought the distribution rights to its jewelry in Brazil from Brazil Comércio e Importação Ltda. (City Time Brazil) from City Time, S.L. Pandora has been in that market since 2009.
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