Burberry Shares Jump on Moncler Bid Report

A Burberry logo displayed outside its store on New Bond Street in London, Britain, July 15, 2024. (Reuters)
A Burberry logo displayed outside its store on New Bond Street in London, Britain, July 15, 2024. (Reuters)
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Burberry Shares Jump on Moncler Bid Report

A Burberry logo displayed outside its store on New Bond Street in London, Britain, July 15, 2024. (Reuters)
A Burberry logo displayed outside its store on New Bond Street in London, Britain, July 15, 2024. (Reuters)

Burberry shares rose as much as 8% on Monday after a media report said Italian luxury outerwear maker Moncler was considering a bid for the British luxury retailer.

Moncler, known for its puffer jackets, on Sunday, said it would not comment on "unsubstantiated rumors" of a possible deal between the two luxury brands.

Burberry, which had a market valuation of nearly 3 billion pounds ($3.89 billion) as of the last close, did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on Monday.

The company's shares, which jumped to 876.6 pence in early trading, pared gains to trade around 3.5% higher by 0732 GMT. The stock has plummeted about 40% so far this year.

Moncler shares, largely flat at 50.8 euros currently, fell as much as 1.5% early in the session.

Burberry, known for dressing the English upper class in its classic camel, red, and black check prints, has lagged behind its peers as it struggles to revive demand for its clothing.

It scrapped its dividend and issued a profit warning in July.

Broadly, luxury groups have struggled with tighter consumer spending in recent quarters, especially in China, with Moncler reporting a 3% drop in third-quarter sales last month.



Adidas Reports Strongest China Sales Since Early 2022

 Adidas Samba and Gazelle sneakers for sale are seen at a shop in Berlin, Germany, May 2, 2024. (Reuters)
Adidas Samba and Gazelle sneakers for sale are seen at a shop in Berlin, Germany, May 2, 2024. (Reuters)
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Adidas Reports Strongest China Sales Since Early 2022

 Adidas Samba and Gazelle sneakers for sale are seen at a shop in Berlin, Germany, May 2, 2024. (Reuters)
Adidas Samba and Gazelle sneakers for sale are seen at a shop in Berlin, Germany, May 2, 2024. (Reuters)

Adidas saw strong growth in Greater China in the third quarter, while sales in North America excluding Yeezy shoes were up on the year thanks to improving brand image.

Adidas' performance in China contrasts with other companies that are struggling with weak consumer demand and a likely longer wait for government stimulus measures to boost confidence.

Currency-neutral quarterly sales rose 9% to 946 million euros ($1.02 billion) in Greater China, up from 870 million euros a year earlier, the company said on Tuesday - its strongest quarterly sales in China since the start of 2022.

Adidas shares gained 1.7% in early trading, despite a filing announcing top shareholder Groupe Bruxelles Lambert cut its stake. Adidas had already released preliminary figures and hiked its annual sales and profit guidance earlier this month.

A trend for Adidas' "terrace" shoes, retro models inspired by soccer fans' footwear in the 1970s and 80s, has driven sales at the German sportswear company, helping it gain market share over rivals such as Nike and recover from a bruising break-up with rapper Kanye West, who goes by Ye.

"In lifestyle, management is avoiding overflowing the market with Campus and Terrace," said Stifel analyst Cedric Lecasble, adding that Adidas is pushing its SL72 shoes and "low profile" sneakers such as its Taekwondo model.

In North America, Adidas' second-biggest market behind Europe, the Middle East and Africa, currency-neutral sales were down 7% at 1.36 billion euros in the third quarter, but increased from the previous year when excluding Yeezy, the company said.

The results are the latest evidence of a revival in the company's fortunes almost two years after CEO Bjorn Gulden joined the German brand. Gulden has overseen the sales of Adidas' stock of Yeezy shoes left unsold after cutting ties with the rapper, its former design partner.

Adidas' wholesale business - revenue made by selling product through third-party retailers - grew 13% in the third quarter, while direct to consumer sales grew 7%.

The company's gross margin increased by 2 percentage points compared to a year ago, at 51.3% - an impressive result, Jefferies analysts said, given the wholesale channel is generally less profitable.

Adidas has taken shelf space from Nike at multi-brand retailers such as Foot Locker and JD Sports thanks to the trend for its multi-colored sneakers, while its US rival has seen sales fall.