Type
Merger/Acquisition
Country
France
Region
Location of affected unit(s)
Yssingeaux, Rillieux
Sector
Manufacturing
Manufacture Of Material For Textiles, Apparel, Leather And Related Products
Manufacture Of Wearing Apparel
14.14 - Manufacture of underwear

162 jobs
Number of planned job losses
Job loss
Announcement Date
23 December 2011
Employment effect (start)
2 January 2012
Foreseen end date
30 March 2012

Description

On 23 December 2011, the Commercial Court of Lyon announced the liquidation of the French lingerie manufacturer Lejaby. However, on the 19th of January, the Commercial Court revised the statement and announced the takeover of Lejaby by the former CEO of the Italian lingerie manufacturer La Perla. Before the liquidation the company had 450 employees. The new owner planned to keep on 195 employees, mainly at its headquarter in Rillieux (Rhône). All other 255 workers will be dismissed, including 93 employees at the last France-based factory (90 of them female) in Yssingeaux (Haute-Loire).

This decision caused industrial action at Yssingeaux and the closure of the site became an issue for the government and politicians standing for the French presidential election of April-May 2012.

Finally, political influence lead to the takeover of Lejaby's Yssingeaux site by leather goods manufacturer Sofama, a supplier of the luxury brand Louis Vuitton (LVMH group). Sofama bought the site and decided to train all 93 employees in leather goods production. The CEO of LVMH, Bernard Arnault, said he was proud to help Sofama to save employments and keep industry in France.


Sources

  • 19 January 2012: Nouvel Observateur
  • 1 February 2012: L'usine Nouvelle

Citation

Eurofound (2011), Lejaby, Merger/Acquisition in France, factsheet number 73297, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/73297.