Trussardi looks ahead: CEO holds 50 percent of capital and eyes stock exchange debut

Italian luxury house Trussardi is preparing a holistic restructuring to gain market share within the emerging affordable luxury niche. Changes within the shareholding and a cleaner structure are the foundations of the new Trussardi.

Earlier this week, Beatrice Trussardi has transferred her 25 percent in the family business to her brother Tomaso, which now holds half of the capital.

"My sister Beatrice - explains in an interview with ‘Il Sole 24 Ore’ the CEO of Trussardi, Tomaso Trussardi – will leave the fashion arm of the group to focus on the real estate business and the Nicola Trussardi Foundation, focused on art and other cultural projects,” further explains the CEo of the Italian company.

After the transfer of shares, Tomaso owns 50 percent of the company, getting the group’s control, while the rest of the shares are divided between the parent company’s chairman and their sister Gaia who acts as the company’s creative director.

Tomaso Trussardi gains control thanks to her sister’s shares

But changes have also reached the business’ organisation. Currently, the group is segmented in two different lines: Trussardi and Trussardi Jeans - which, as pointed out by the CEO, are showing "growth between 35 percent and 80 percent in the spring-summer sales campaigns in 2016 and autumn-winter 2016/2017."

From now on, accessories and shoes will be part of the same business unit, with Trussardi reinforcing its positioning within the accessible luxury segment, and Trussardi Jeans targeting a younger audience. The retailer will also push its e-commerce arm, which noted a whopping 120 percent growth.

Looking ahead, the group aims to quadrupling the volumes of online sales in three years; pushing the outlets and travel retail segment to satisfy the increasing demand from Chinese customers who turned to be the 40 percent of the total consumers within this niche market.

Potential stock exchange debut for Trussardi in 3-4 years

Additionally, the objective of the group in the next 3-4 years is debuting on the stock exchange or welcoming a private equity fund as their new partner, although, as emphasises Tomaso Trussardi, there is "nothing decided."

Commenting further on recent rumours of an entrance of an external partner in the group’s capital, Trussardi’s CEO assured that, for now, the company remains independent. "In the next three-four years - he said - we might get closer to the Exchange or to a fund to try equity. But nothing is decided and who says the contrary just wants to get publicity. "

Meanwhile, recalls ‘Il Sole 24Ore’, Trussardi will underwrite by April a 15 million euro capital increase which would take up to 40 million euro the amount invested in the last three years by the founding family.

In 2014 and 2015, the group turnover remained stable at 150 million euro, helped by the restructuring of the distribution network in Italy and abroad.