A global player like CHANEL dont buy 20% without option to buy more. When the buy more, this is only question of time, now they have one leg inside.

Sep 14, 2018,15:22 PM
 

For FPJ it is a life insurance to survive in a market with four big players. CHANEL keep his back free.
You are rigth, he is from Marseille and later in Paris for his first steps. My mistake! If it is not a Paris story, so it is a French story.

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Journe SA officially sold 20% ownership to CHANEL

 
 By: Walter2 : September 14th, 2018-09:52
Good deal ! ...  

Well it was only a question of time, but interesting that it’s Chanel

 
 By: Velociphile - No longer in the building : September 14th, 2018-10:10
And not Richemont 🤣

Is this being read as a total sale of the company? Is FPJ no longer an independant?

 
 By: Spangles - Dr. Tabby : September 14th, 2018-10:45
I believe AP owns the same % of Richard Mille.

Ah, yes. I was so sure FPJ would never do this

 
 By: Spangles - Dr. Tabby : September 14th, 2018-11:33
I'm a little sad about it.

A global player like CHANEL dont buy 20% without option to buy more. When the buy more, this is only question of time, now they have one leg inside.

 
 By: Walter2 : September 14th, 2018-15:22
For FPJ it is a life insurance to survive in a market with four big players. CHANEL keep his back free. You are rigth, he is from Marseille and later in Paris for his first steps. My mistake! If it is not a Paris story, so it is a French story.

;) [nt]

 
 By: amanico : September 14th, 2018-13:42

Kind of like NY and NJ.

 
 By: TheMadDruid : September 14th, 2018-14:20
Never say to a guy from Jersey "oh, you're from New York?"

:) [nt]

 
 By: amanico : September 14th, 2018-17:24

A group of collectors/friends or his financed the brand. No? [nt]

 
 By: Spangles - Dr. Tabby : September 14th, 2018-11:42
No message body

?

 
 By: PalmSprings : September 20th, 2018-13:49
Which shop? From Antwerp? Then I know enough.

Ginotti [nt]

 
 By: dedestexhes : September 20th, 2018-18:48

Dear friends of the brand FP Journe, First I was shocked...

 
 By: ChristianDK : September 14th, 2018-13:09
I dont know more than you do - we still need this to be confirmed officially... So after swallowing the news of this, perhaps it is not so bad after all. - Look at who owns Chanel! Here are my thoughts as of this moment: First I thought, if they are givin...  

Well said, Christian! [nt]

 
 By: Ornatus-Mundi : September 14th, 2018-13:13

So very, very true, dear friend. I think we sometimes forget that the horological world is - in relative terms - small, esoteric and very fragile.

 
 By: ChristianDK : September 14th, 2018-13:40
We also play with the image of eternity and longevity - but there is also a business reality that cant be ignored. I really hope that this is the beginning of a good road...but we will see...

Christian, thanks for putting your thoughts together. I'm am also very interested in what this means and how it will play out.

 
 By: Jay (Eire) : September 14th, 2018-14:11
While you are correct in highlighting Chanel as a family owned company with the understanding of how to build and maintain a luxury brand my concern is that 1) both owners and principal executives of Chanel are nearing 70 years of age which in my mind bri... 

thank you, Jay...

 
 By: ChristianDK : September 14th, 2018-14:21
.....for the very good questions you pose....And I cant offer a good response to a single one of them. As you, with your fine sense of humour, put it, we need an investment banker here.... ;-) I am just a poor soul who hopes for the best. We will only kno... 

im Sure that is no coincidence with Holland & Holland

 
 By: ChristianDK : September 15th, 2018-01:51
If it where It all started - I don’t know. They all live in Geneva so maybe they are part of the same circles....?

It is a very clever move by FPJ.

 
 By: foversta : September 14th, 2018-13:24
It brings sustainability to the company. Well done. Fx

I really hope that it does, dear FX

 
 By: ChristianDK : September 14th, 2018-13:41
the kind, that you and I will appreciate . best Christian

I hope you are right! [nt]

 
 By: Spangles - Dr. Tabby : September 14th, 2018-15:47

Its looks like the same story as Greubel Forsey .

 
 By: Watchonthewrists : September 14th, 2018-14:08
Sell a few % but still stay independent 👍🏻

yes that is a good example also.

 
 By: ChristianDK : September 14th, 2018-14:11
but there is a future beyond the founders. As buyers of these products, we can only hope that the owners choose a good path for the brands... Our watches are going to be around for a long time.....

True when you think about the watchmaker will not be around anymore at some point .

 
 By: Watchonthewrists : September 15th, 2018-00:34
But i think FPJ will leave a Worthy and talented successor behind . He knows what he is doing

My thoughts also ....😉 [nt]

 
 By: ChristianDK : September 16th, 2018-01:11

Probably not at all comparable...

 
 By: vitalsigns : September 14th, 2018-14:37
But I had hoped Journe could have accomplished something akin to what Rolex did many years ago with the company held in trust and operated independently. Two vastly different companies and economic circumstances, of course... Cheers, John

I understand your feelings very well, John

 
 By: ChristianDK : September 14th, 2018-14:47
As it is a very pure model. But most of the watch brands have changed hands several times. Patek was sold to a dial manufacturer in the 30’ies. And that went pretty well. My guess is that FPJ will try to steer clear away from the big groups because they a... 

The info comes from a fan of the brand and not

 
 By: alex : September 14th, 2018-14:52
Journe so let’s wait and see. In any event F.P. Journe was just a sharehlholder in his company, the biggest shareholder being a private Swiss businessman. Selling a stake to the owners of Chanel, seems like a good idea as the Wertheimer brothers seem to b... 

there is a copy of the letter

 
 By: thomaspp : September 14th, 2018-15:01
that was sent to the employees floating around the internet... ...  

Thank you

 
 By: ChristianDK : September 14th, 2018-21:29
As I unfortunately don’t speak French, I’m hoping some kind soul here can translate the important bits, please. Thank you 🙏

Basically Journe indicates that since his children

 
 By: alex : September 15th, 2018-00:45
will probably not take over he has decided to insure the future of the company by letting Chanel into the capital as it is a company that shares the same values

Thank you, Alex :-)

 
 By: ChristianDK : September 15th, 2018-00:52
So pretty much what we guessed. I guess it is smart to do something while he is not too old and with his back against the wall and while the economy is still good.

I’m really glad

 
 By: GreatPilot@me.com : September 14th, 2018-16:44
I purchased my CB and Vagabondage II/III before this happened. I have been a fan for about 3 years and love the brand, not that Chanel will hurt it by infusing money and help but I predict it will never be the “cool” company we love any longer...Jim

Jim - that’s EXACTLY how I feel too.

 
 By: Bounce781 : September 15th, 2018-03:35
This Chanel deal is good for FPJ the man, and possibly for the continuation of the brand after he retires. BUT, the “romance” of the FPJ as a true artisan independent is a bit lost in my mind (silly - I know). Will be interesting to see if there will be a... 

I honestly don’t see a reason for that

 
 By: Mohannad (aka Riddler) : September 15th, 2018-04:28
Selling only 20%. Doesn’t mean your not an artisanal independent Richard mille has AP owning 20% Same goes for GF with Richmont they own 20% They are both very successful and stronger than before even They maintain their ethos and philosophy

You are probably right, M!

 
 By: Bounce781 : September 15th, 2018-05:47
But I recall hearing an interview with Kari Voutainen on a podcast (KeepingTime, I think), and what he said really resonated with me. He said (not a verbatim quote): “what I’ve always wanted as a watchmaker was to be independent. No partners, finance help... 

I don't know Mohannad. Chanel haven't invested in FPJ without expectation of return.

 
 By: Jay (Eire) : September 15th, 2018-07:01
Now that could be an expectation that they will receive a share of revenue equating to their ownership or that this 20% has bought Chanel some right to buy the entire company at a later point. Or something in between or something very different. No matter... 

Interesting choice of partner for FPJ

 
 By: AnthonyTsai : September 15th, 2018-10:25
I would have expected a different company but should still be good for Journe in the long run. - AT

It's a deal between friends, apparently.

 
 By: Spangles - Dr. Tabby : September 15th, 2018-11:37
The best source on this so far: thejourneguy.com Chanel's owners are friends of Mr. Journe, they are silent partners and receive no dividends, and the money from the sale is reinvested entirely. It is a deal very favorable for FPJ, almost not making s... 

Chanel has put out some interesting watches...

 
 By: jporos : September 15th, 2018-13:29
particularly the J12 series and particularly the J12 Marine. I think these watches are underrated. A partnership between Chanel and F.P. Journe could produce some very interesting watches...