LVMH to buy Italian jeweler Bulgari

[March 07, 2011]  PARIS (AP) -- French fashion colossus LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton is adding another jewel to its crown.

The Paris-based holding company behind luxury brands Christian Dior gowns, Dom Perignon champagne and Guerlain perfume has agreed to buy Rome-based jeweler Bulgari SpA in a cash-and-shares deal worth euro4.3 billion ($6 billion). The deal will see Bulgari's founding family become the second largest family shareholders in LVMH behind that of Chief Executive Bernard Arnault.

France's richest man, Arnault has grown LVMH into a euro20 billion company since its creation in 1987, acquiring an impressive portfolio of luxury brands that extends to Chateau d'Yquem wine and TAG Heuer watches.

His latest takeover adds the fabled jeweler favored by Hollywood stars like Elizabeth Taylor, whose collection included an 18-carat emerald brooch surrounded by diamonds -- the only piece of jewelry she wore to her first wedding to Richard Burton. The jeweler also designed the 1967 gold, emerald, ruby and sapphire necklace worn by Keira Knightley at the Oscars in 2006

LVMH said in a statement it will exchange 16.5 million of its own shares for the 56 percent stake in Bulgari owned by the company's founding family.

LVMH will offer the remaining Bulgari shareholders euro12.25 ($17.10) per share in a public offering. Following the deal, the Bulgari family will own 3 percent of LVMH.

Bulgari is the smallest among the major luxury watch and jewelry makers. It was started in 1884 by Greek immigrant Sotirios Bulgari, who opened the flagship Via Condotti store in Rome in 1905, and has expanded to more than 260 stores.

[Associated Press; By GREG KELLER]

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