Swatch Group (PINK:SWGAY) announced on Monday that it will purchase the Harry Winston brand of watches and jewelry for about $1 billion.
Under the terms of the deal, Swatch will pay $750 million in cash and should an additional $250 million in debt to acquire the brand from Canada-based Harry Winston Diamond Corp. (NYSE:HWD), which will change its name to Dominion Diamond Corporation after the sale is completed, the Associated Press noted.
On the news, shares of Harry Winston Diamond surged more than 8% in Monday trading, rising above $15 a share, while shares of Swatch Group climbed almost 3% in over-the-counter trading.
European and Canadian regulators will have to approve the purchase.
The largest watch-maker in Switzerland, Swatch will acquire 500 employees as well as Harry Winston’s manufacturing plant in Geneva in the acquisition. Swatch employs about 29,000 workers worldwide and owns a wide array of luxury watch brands, including Breguet, Omega, Longines, Mido, Blancpain, Tiffany Watch and Tissot.
Comments are currently unavailable. Please check back soon.