What will Kendall Jenner say? Valentino is 'set to buy' French label Balmain loved by the Kardashians in a rumoured £435m deal

  • Italian company is rumoured to be among three potential buyers 
  • Balmain's owners announced in February they were seeking sale 
  • French brand has a rumoured annual revenue of €30million (£24million)
  • For more of the latest on Kendall Jenner visit www.dailymail.co.uk/kendall

By Unity Blott For Mailonline

Published: 12:43 EST, 4 April 2016 | Updated: 13:42 EST, 4 April 2016

Italian fashion house Valentino has made a lucrative offer to buy its competitor Balmain, according to reports in the French media.

The label is thought to be considering three separate offers - from 'a Chinese group and an American investor' as well as Valentino, and owners have until Thursday to pick one.

Les Echos reports that Valentino, which is owned by members of the Qatari royal family, has made a bid of €569million (£453million) for the French brand that was founded by designer Pierre Balmain in 1945.

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Balmain is rumoured to have received a bid from Valentino. Pictured is creative director Olivier Rousteing (centre) at the brand's Paris Fashion Week show alongside Kendall Jenner, Karlie Kloss and others

Balmain is rumoured to have received a bid from Valentino. Pictured is creative director Olivier Rousteing (centre) at the brand's Paris Fashion Week show alongside Kendall Jenner, Karlie Kloss and others

Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani, founder of eponymous label Valentino, is rumoured to have his sights set on French fashion house Balmain after its owners announced they were seeking a buyer in February

Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani, founder of eponymous label Valentino, is rumoured to have his sights set on French fashion house Balmain after its owners announced they were seeking a buyer in February

Balmain announced in February it had given French investment bank Bucéphale Finance a mandate to sell the historic brand, which is helmed by Olivier Rousteing, for between €300 and €400million (£239 to £319million).

In doing so, the heirs of Balmain's late owner Alain Hivelin - who died in 2014 - sparked a flurry of interest from French, British and Asian investors.

Before his death, Hivelin appointed creative director Olivier Rousteing and subsequent years have seen the historic fashion house rise to prominence with a rumoured annual revenue of €30 million (£24 million).

This is partly down to its massive social media influence - digital-savvy Rousteing, just 24 when he took on the role, was the first designer to reach one million Instagram followers - with high-profile fans such as Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid.

Social media-savvy Rousteing, just 24 when he took on the role of creative director, was the first designer to reach one million Instagram followers - and high-profile fans such as Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid

Social media-savvy Rousteing, just 24 when he took on the role of creative director, was the first designer to reach one million Instagram followers - and high-profile fans such as Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid

Kendall Jenner walks the runway at Balmain's Paris Fashion Week show in March
The show, featuring Gigi Hadid (pictured) was a star-studded affair, with its runway models attracting as much attention as the collection itself

Kendall Jenner (left) and Gigi Hadid (right) walk the runway at Balmain's Paris Fashion Week show in March. The show was a star-studded affair, with its runway models attracting as much attention as the collection itself

Its Paris Fashion Week AW16 show in March was a star-studded affair, with its runway models attracting as much attention as the collection itself.

Olivier Rousteing made his way onto the stage to loud cheers and applause from the crowd following the show, which also include Joan Smalls, Binx Walton, Sara Sampaio and Lindsey Wixson.

Rousteing's 2015 H&M collaboration - fronted by Kendall Jenner and Jourdan Dunn - also brought the brand added exposure, making it more accessible.

He has said in the past: 'I want to talk to my generation − this is my main aim as a designer.' 

Balmain has been a family-run affair since Alain Hiveline left his heirs a 30 per cent stake after his death, and any new owners would have to comply with Alain Hivelin's dying wish: to ensure the continuity of the house in the luxury market. 

Following his storming AW16 show at Paris Fashion Week, Olivier Rousteing made his way onto the stage to loud cheers and applause from the crowd after models Joan Smalls and Jourdann Dunn walked the runway

Following his storming AW16 show at Paris Fashion Week, Olivier Rousteing made his way onto the stage to loud cheers and applause from the crowd after models Joan Smalls and Jourdann Dunn walked the runway

Friends in high places: Olivier Rousteing, second right, rubs shoulders with (left to right) Jared Leto, Lewis Hamilton, Kanye West and Kim Kardashian West at the Balmain aftershow dinner, Paris Fashion Week 2016

Friends in high places: Olivier Rousteing, second right, rubs shoulders with (left to right) Jared Leto, Lewis Hamilton, Kanye West and Kim Kardashian West at the Balmain aftershow dinner, Paris Fashion Week 2016

Suzy Volterra, French racehorse owner, with French fashion designer, Pierre Balmain
Pierre Balmain, Paris dress designer, with Barbara Balmain (alias White), one of his models, at his Winter collection shown at Brown's of Chester

The original Mr Balmain: Founding designer Pierre Balmain with French racehorse owner Suzy Volterra, left, and with one of his models, right. The label is now owned by the descendants of former chairman Alain Hivelin

A model walks the runway for an early Balmain show at Sotheby's, London. Before he died, former owner Alain Hivelin expressed a dying wish that the brand would remain at the forefront of the luxury market

A model walks the runway for an early Balmain show at Sotheby's, London. Before he died, former owner Alain Hivelin expressed a dying wish that the brand would remain at the forefront of the luxury market

 

 

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