Moreau Paris, a storied 19th-century French trunkmaker born during the same fizzy era as Louis Vuitton, Goyard and Moynat, is about to change hands — again.
Strategic and financial investors are vying for the leather goods house via a court-supervised process under way in Paris, according to Richard Morgan, whose investment advisory is representing Asteren, the liquidator.
Up for grabs are all key brand assets for Moreau, famed for its wicker-inspired monogram, introduced in 1882.
The sale process commenced in June and binding offers are due by July 9, with the Paris Commercial Court revealing the victor shortly thereafter, according to Morgan.
It is understood the court considers the offer price, the financial capacity of the bidder and the development plan.
“We currently have well over 30 serious candidates and are receiving calls every day,” Morgan told WWD exclusively. “We have received huge interest from strategic and financial investors across Europe, Asia and North America. Interest has come from luxury groups, manufacturers, distributors, private equity and [high-net worth individuals] with direct experience in consumer brands.”
A Moreau bag in monogram canvas and leather.
Founded by the descendants of master cabinetmaker Louis Moreau, who first established his business on the Rue Saint-Honoré in 1764, Moreau Paris went dormant at the beginning of the 20th century and was revived in 2010 by entrepreneur Veronika Rovnoff and her brother Fedor Georges Savchenko.
Onward Luxury Group acquired Moreau in 2016 and accelerated its international expansion, opening a flagship on the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré and growing brand awareness in Japan.
A group of retail entrepreneurs, led by a majority investor in Japan, bought Moreau from Onward in 2020, and opted for a court-supervised sale when protracted negotiations with a landlord spiraled into a larger process.
“The court-supervised framework, although a constraint in the short term, makes the deal more attractive for investors,” Morgan said. “Organized as an asset sale, the court-controlled procedure offers prospective buyers a clear path to acquiring the IP and all relating assets debt free.
“The process simplifies the holding structure, with all assets put directly under a new owner, facilitating the strategy going forward,” he added.
According to Morgan, Moreau had north of 10 million euros in annual sales in recent years amid strong demand for leather goods globally.
Roughly 80 percent of revenues have been generated outside of Europe via three directly operated stores in Japan — where sales grew 30 percent between 2022 and 2025 — and franchise boutiques in Mexico City, Manila in the Philippines and Houston, where a boutique opened last December.
The Paris boutique is temporarily closed pending the decision of the court.
Morgan characterized the sale as a rare opportunity to acquire “an established Paris luxury house with genuine heritage, an international presence and a distinctive monogram identity.”
The sale includes trademarks, intellectual property, the distribution network, digital assets, inventories,
collections and a Japanese subsidiary, according to Morgan.
Moreau markets leather bags, like its top-handle Sophie model, plus monogram canvas or leather tote bags, which are manufactured in Italy.
Courtesy of Richard Morgan Advisory
A watch trunk by Moreau Paris.
