Gucci-Owner Kering Paid $3.8 Bln for French Fragrance Label Creed 

The logo of French luxury group Kering is seen at Kering headquarters in Paris, France, February 13, 2023. (Reuters)
The logo of French luxury group Kering is seen at Kering headquarters in Paris, France, February 13, 2023. (Reuters)
TT

Gucci-Owner Kering Paid $3.8 Bln for French Fragrance Label Creed 

The logo of French luxury group Kering is seen at Kering headquarters in Paris, France, February 13, 2023. (Reuters)
The logo of French luxury group Kering is seen at Kering headquarters in Paris, France, February 13, 2023. (Reuters)

Gucci-owner Kering paid 3.5 billion euros ($3.83 billion) for acquiring high-end French fragrance label Creed in June, the Financial Times reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The French luxury group made the acquisition since flagging intentions earlier in the year to create an in-house cosmetics business.

The all-cash deal to acquire 100% of the fragrance house from funds controlled by BlackRock and by the company's current chairman Javier Ferran is expected to close in the second half this year.

Part of the reason the details of the transaction were not provided earlier was that the companies did not want to broadcast Creed's steep profit margins, according to the FT report.

Kering and Creed did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.



Italy's Antitrust Opens Probe into Shein over Environmental Claims

FILE PHOTO: People walk past an advertisement for Shein, March 8, 2024 in London, Britain. REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: People walk past an advertisement for Shein, March 8, 2024 in London, Britain. REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett/File Photo
TT

Italy's Antitrust Opens Probe into Shein over Environmental Claims

FILE PHOTO: People walk past an advertisement for Shein, March 8, 2024 in London, Britain. REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: People walk past an advertisement for Shein, March 8, 2024 in London, Britain. REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett/File Photo

Italy's antitrust agency has launched an investigation into Dublin-based Infinite Styles Services CO. Limited, which manages the Italian website of Shein, over possible misleading environmental claims on the website.
The company is seen as trying "to convey an image of production and commercial sustainability of its garments through generic, vague, confusing and/or misleading environmental claims," Italy's antitrust said in a statement.
Some of the information on the clothing collection 'evoluSHEIN', declared by the company to be sustainable, could mislead consumers about the amount of green fibres used, while also failing to inform them about the fact the garments cannot be further recycled, Reuters quoted the authority as saying.
Italy's antitrust also said that Infinite Styles Services CO. Limited appeared to emphasize its commitment to the decarbonization process, while the targets indicated on Shein's website appear to be contradicted by the increase in greenhouse gas emissions indicated in Shein's sustainability reports for 2022 and 2023.
A Shein spokesperson did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
Founded in China, Shein is known for its cheap tops and dresses. Its treatment of workers and environmental record have come under increased scrutiny.