Christian Liaigre receives investment from Navis Capital
Navis Capital Partners (“Navis”), an Asia-based private equity firm, has completed an investment in Christian Liaigre Group (“Liaigre”), a well-known French ultra-luxury furniture brand.
The transaction has been made in conjunction with Symphony International Holdings Limited, a Singapore-based investment holding company focused on lifestyle and healthcare businesses, and Chanintr Living, a Thai-based furniture retailer, which operates Liaigre showrooms in Asia on a wholly-owned and joint venture basis.
Post-completion, the Liaigre showrooms in Asia will be reorganised directly under the Liaigre holding company, and Chanintr Living will become a shareholder in the enlarged group.
Christian Liaigre is a renowned and internationally recognized interior architect and furniture designer, who has developed the Liaigre name into the most sought-after furniture and lifestyle brand.
The Liaigre brand is now synonymous with discreet and understated luxury. It is renowned for its elegant, minimalistic and discreetly luxurious design style. Liaigre has a strong intellectual property portfolio, with a huge archive of proprietary furniture and lighting designs. Liaigre retails a range of bespoke furniture, lighting, fabric, leather and accessories in a network of 26 showrooms in 11 countries across Europe, the US and Asia, In addition, Liaigre undertakes exclusive interior architecture projects for select hotels, restaurants, yachts and private residences.
This transaction enables the reorganisation of the Asian and Rest-of-World activities of Liaigre under one single company and provides new capital for the next stage of growth. The plan is to further develop showrooms, and design activities in key Asian cities, including Hong Kong, Taipei, Tokyo, Shanghai and Seoul in addition to a more modest expansion in Europe and North America.
Christophe Caillaud, President of Liaigre, said: “We are delighted to have concluded a transaction with Navis, Symphony and Chanintr Living and look forward to great success with their backing. Their presence and relationships in Asia are highly complementary to our growth plans.”
Nicholas Bloy, Managing Partner of Navis, said: “Liaigre is an exclusive and well-established company with strong brand equity, great locations and superior store economics compared to peers. We have known and admired Liaigre and the principals of Symphony and Chanintr Living for many years, and we now look forward to working with our partners to further strengthen and institutionalize the capabilities of the company as it embarks on the next exciting phase of growth in Asia.”