Shares of EganaGoldpfeil (Holdings) rose 16.44 per cent yesterday after it revealed that Switzerland-based luxury goods group Compagnie Financiere Richemont would be its second-biggest shareholder. The jewellery and timepiece maker gained 48 HK cents to close at HK$3.40 yesterday as turnover surged 473 per cent to HK$59.83 million - the stock's largest percentage gain in more than three years. EganaGoldpfeil said its chairman and controlling shareholder, Hans-Joerg Seeberger, would transfer one-third of the company or 428.58 million existing shares into a wholly-owned investment holding firm, Joint Asset International. Richemont, through a wholly-owned unit, will receive 30 per cent of Joint Asset which in turn will get a 33.33 per cent direct stake in EganaGoldpfeil upon the share transfer. No other details were disclosed. After the deal, the Swiss firm eventually will have about 10 per cent indirect stake in EganaGoldpfeil worth about HK$437.14 million, based on the stock's closing price yesterday. The deal is expected to be completed by September 4. Richemont owns a portfolio of leading international brands including Cartier in Paris, Dunhill in London and Shanghai Tang in Hong Kong. Its underlying earnings rose 36 per cent year on year to Euro1.13 billion (HK$16.66 billion) on sales of Euro4.31 billion for the year to March. EganaGoldpfeil did not give the reason for the share transfer, saying only Richemont's role would not affect the ultimate control of the firm or the composition of its board. The firm is still seeking to privatise its unit, Egana Jewellery & Pearls, saying the deal is not conditional to Richemont's investment.
