Founded in 1973, the footwear and accessories brand has been a subsidiary of Vivarte since 1985. Present in 14 countries, it relies on a network of 260 stores, 700 employees and in 2020 achieved a turnover of 93 million euros.

Vivarte, which was a large conglomerate of fashion and footwear brands, has been selling its businesses to cover its debt exposure, and now has a reduced portfolio, where Minelli and the women’s apparel brand Caroll still take part. Beaumanoir, a French fashion group which bought a large part of the assets of La Halle, a French apparel and shoe retailer previously owned by Vivarte, is in talks to buy Caroll. Stéphane Collaert was involved in the purchase of San Marina last year.

According to Vivarte “Minelli would join an industrial project effectively implemented by two footwear professionals that would ensure its sustainability, improved performance and continued development. Thanks to the synergy effects between the two brands and the complementarity of their offers, this operation would allow the creation of a market leader in leather footwear in France”. The new structure would develop a turnover of 250 million euros based on a network of 470 stores in France as well as efficient logistics provided by the Log's Group, co-investor in the project.

“Minelli is a strong and iconic brand that is among the favourites of French women. We are convinced that we will offer it, just as we did for San Marina, development prospects that match its ambitions. We are obviously looking forward to making this project a reality and welcoming our future employees as well as possible", commented Stéphane Collaert and Laurent Portella.

The takeover proposal has been presented to the representatives of Minelli’s personnel. The transaction should be carried out in the third quarter of 2021.