Jennyfer's Twelve Takeover Bids: A Mixed Bag of Hope and Worry!
Twelve prospective buyers have forwarded their bids for the dissolving Jennyfer brand
Deadline for registration was May 13. That's the skinny on the ongoing takeover bids for the struggling ready-to-wear brand Jennyfer, which fell into judicial liquidation at the end of April. This juicy tidbit comes straight from the desk of an AFP lawyer for the brand's personnel reps, who confirmed it to the press on May 14, echoing a report by Fashion Network(Nouvelle fenêtre).
Out of the "twelve potential suitors," only two are seen as serious contenders by Stéphane Ducrocq, the lawyer quoted by AFP. He characterized the offers as "not satisfactory," warning that they would likely cost many jobs. Reached for comment, Jennyfer's lawyer, Pierre-Emmanuel Fender, remained tight-lipped.
A Crisis-Ridden Clothing Market
The most golden takeover offer promises to save around 350 jobs, according to Ducrocq. "We're fingers-crossed that the candidates will reconsider their offers or that a new one will surface out of thin air," he added.
The breton ready-to-wear group Beaumanoir (Cache Cache, Bréal, Bonobo, Morgan, Caroll, Sarenza, La Halle) has thrown its hat into the ring, submitting a takeover bid for 26 sales points. If successful, the deal would preserve roughly 160 jobs, as per Fashion Network's report.
Born in 1984, Jennyfer boasted 220 stores in France and 80 abroad, mainly in Belgium, and claimed an annual turnover of around 250 million euros. By May 28, 2025, the Bobigny Commercial Court will assess the takeover bids, a deadline that follows the judicial liquidation of Jennyfer, announced at the end of April. The current situation reflects a rocky period for ready-to-wear brands.
Background Check
- Liquidation: After a rough financial spell, Jennyfer landed in the lap of the Bobigny Commercial Court for judicial liquidation on April 30, 2025. This move allowed the brand to operate until May 28, 2025, in hopes of facilitating a takeover deal[2][3][4].
- Employment: A total of 999 jobs are at stake due to the liquidation, with both domestic and international locations potentially feeling the pinch[3][4].
- Past Resuscitation Attempts: Despite a strategic rebrand and heavy investment, Jennyfer failed to achieve sustainable profitability[3].
The Takeover Tango
- Takeover Proposals: A dozen takeover bids have been put forth for Jennyfer, albeit not all are frontrunners[1].
- Market Climate: With a saturated market and an outdated economic model, unions are pessimistic about the prospects of successful takeovers[3].
- The Road Ahead: The flurry of takeover bids indicates interest, but the long-term viability of these offers is uncertain. The court will evaluate the bids by May 28, 2025[1][4].
So, while there's a flurry of interest in saving Jennyfer, the brand's long-term prospects remain uncertain thanks to market conditions and the challenges facing the ready-to-wear sector overall. Here's keeping our fingers crossed for a positive outcome!
A French ready-to-wear company, Jennyfer, is seeking a new owner amidst a tumultuous market. Two of the twelve potential suitors, Beaumanoir and the yet unnamed strongest contender, have put forward offers in the realm of fashion-and-beauty and business, hoping to preserve a combined 510 jobs and potentially revitalize the struggling brand. Despite the ongoing takeover bids, the future of Jennyfer is still uncertain due to the saturated market and the outdated economic model faced by ready-to-wear brands, as detailed in the liquidation proceedings and past attempts at resuscitation.
