Investcorp

Investcorp is a global equity form founded in 1982. In the 1980s and 1990s, it owned all or part of Breguet, Chaumet, Ebel, Nouvelle Lemania, and Tiffany, attempted to re-start Jaquet-Droz, and also Saks Fifth Avenue and Gucci. Investcorp was one of the primary watch and luxury groups in the 1980s and 1990s.

Investcorp was set up in Bahrain by Nemir Kirdan of Iraq. Its aim was to invest Middle Eastern wealth in Western concerns, especially luxury brands.

• 1984 - Tiffany is acquired for $95 million
• 1987 - Breguet is acquired from Chaumet
• 1987 - Tiffany is floated as a public company
• 1987 - Chaumet is purchased out of bankruptcy due to fraud by the Chaumet brothers
• 1990 - Saks Fifth Avenue is acquired for $1.3 billion
• 1992 - Nouvelle Lemania is acquired
• 1988 - Half of Gucci is acquired
• 1993 - The remainder of Gucci is acquired
• 1994 - Ebel is acquired from its founding family
• 1994 - Dramatic and successful public license renewal for Gucci
• 1995 - 48.2% of Gucci is listed on the New York Stock Exchange
• 1996 - The remainder of Gucci is listed as a public stock, with Investcorp liquidating its holding the following year
• 1999 - Breguet and Nouvelle Lemania is sold to Swatch Group
• 1999 - Ebel and Chaumet are sold to LVMH for $460 million