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Swatch Group raises stake in Middle East retailer

By Andy Sambidge

Technocorp Holding Ltd, a Swatch Group company, said on Monday it is increasing its stake in Dubai-based company Rivoli Investments.

In a statement, it said it was purchasing a tranche of shares and would be taking control of Rivoli Investments, without specifying how big a stake it now held.

Swatch Group previously held a 40 percent equity interest in Rivoli Investments, which operates a network of over 360 retail businesses in the Middle East, predominantly active in the watch segment.

The company has a workforce of over 1,500 employees.

Rivoli shops have for a long time offered Swatch Group watch brands for sale in the region.

In October, it was reported that the private equity arm of Dubai Holding, which is owned by the emirate’s ruler, was planning to sell its minority stake in Rivoli.

The unit, Dubai International Capital, was said to be in exclusive negotiations to sell its 18% stake in Rivoli Group to Saudi-based Al Rajhi Capital, the investment banking and private equity arm of the kingdom’s top listed lender, Al Rajhi Bank.

Swatch Group said in July that it expects a strong second half after profit rose 6.1% to CHF768 million (£520.7m) in the first six months. The company is expanding in markets outside Asia such as the US.

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