Historic French Luxury Leather Goods House Moreau Paris Sold to Leading Manufacturer

PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 3, 2026--

ASTEREN announces that the Paris Commercial Court has approved the acquisition of Moreau Paris, one of France’s most prestigious luxury leather goods houses, by Cardinal Invest, owner of the French luxury manufacturer Groupe Lécuyer.

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The transaction concludes a competitive international sale process conducted under the supervision of the Paris Commercial Court and marks the beginning of a new chapter for one of the last independent historic Paris monogram houses.

Led by judicial liquidator Pablo Castanon at ASTEREN, with Richard Morgan Advisory as financial advisor, the process launched in early June attracted substantial interest from trade and financial investors worldwide.

The Court order signed on 29 July lays the foundations for renewed investment, international expansion and long-term industrial development for a remarkable brand.

A Heritage Name with a Global Footprint

Founded in 1882, Moreau is one of the few historic Paris monogram houses alongside Louis Vuitton, Goyard and Moynat.

The house traces its origins to the work of Louis Moreau, a Parisian master cabinetmaker established on the Rue Saint-Honoré in 1764, whose family later developed a reputation for exceptional travel trunks and leather goods.

Like several historic French luxury maisons, Moreau disappeared from the luxury landscape during the twentieth century before being rediscovered and successfully revived in the early 2010s.

The brand subsequently benefited from substantial investment under the ownership of Japanese luxury group Onward, which acquired Moreau in 2016 and focused on retail expansion. The Paris flagship opened in 2017 on the rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, showcases the House’s leather and canvas products alongside rare XVIII century pieces and original trunks.

Following Onward's exit from its European operations in 2020, Moreau was acquired by a group of retail entrepreneurs who continued the House's renaissance, investing in international expansion, strengthening the franchise network and supporting growth in key markets.

Under their stewardship, the key Japanese market has seen sales increase by more than 30% between 2022 and 2025, and the opening of a new partner-operated flagship boutique in Houston in December 2025 demonstrating the brand's continued international development.

Today, Maison Moreau generates approximately €10 million in annual global retail sales through a network of boutiques, department stores, franchise partners and digital channels.

“The outcome demonstrates how an effective judicial restructuring process can attract serious industrial investors and provide businesses with a genuine long-term future.”

Pablo Castanon, ASTEREN, Judicial Liquidator

A Natural Industrial Home

Groupe Lécuyer, brings more than three centuries of manufacturing expertise covering the full value chain in leather and textile production. Owned by the Odend’hal family, based in Normandy, the group supplies world leading luxury brands as well as other sectors, employing approximately 800 people across France and internationally.

The acquisition provides Maison Moreau with strengthened industrial capabilities, enhanced product development, expanded international distribution and long-term financial support while preserving the Maison's distinctive identity and craftsmanship.

The expertise of Groupe Lécuyer will complement Maison Moreau’s established Italian production. The combination of renowned Italian leather craftsmanship with unique French expertise will further enhance the Maison's desirability and reinforce its position among the world's leading heritage luxury brands.

“The Commercial Court is a crossroads where companies in financial difficulties and investors meet to find solutions for business. Moreau is a perfect example of a happy end to a complex situation.”

Pierre Jarrossay, Judge Paris Commercial Court

A Successful Outcome for French Luxury

The acquisition reflects the continuing attractiveness of France's luxury and consumer goods sector to investors and demonstrates how a well-managed judicial restructuring process can preserve valuable businesses by opening them to transparent and competitive acquisition.

The current transaction was largely unexpected. Shareholders had been exploring options to strengthen the group's capital base and support the next stage of development.

An internal reorganisation, affecting the group’s historical structure, ultimately resulted in a court-supervised process involving the French holding company, suddenly placing the entire global operations of one of the last independent Paris monogram houses on the market.

The process put a spotlight on the brand and on its Paris origins. A heritage name such as Moreau, comes very rarely on the market, and the process immediately attracted trade and financial buyers from around the world.

“The response from investors throughout this process confirms that French luxury continues to attract strong international interest. This acquisition marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for an extraordinary heritage brand.”

Richard Morgan, Richard Morgan Advisory

The final transaction with Groupe Lécuyer brings together a historic Parisian luxury house with a leading French manufacturing group. The result combines heritage, artisanal and retail expertise strengthening the platform for expansion of the brand.

“Moreau possesses an extraordinary history, an international clientele and significant growth potential. Our ambition is to build on everything that makes the maison unique while investing in its products, craftsmanship, and global development.”

Charles Odend'hal, CEO Groupe Lécuyer

Participants in the process

 

A look from Moreau Paris F/W 2026 collection (source: Moreau Paris)

1882 Tote on Louis Moreau antique commode (source: Moreau Paris)

Paris flagship rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré (source: Moreau Paris)

SYDNEY (AP) — The trial of Alan Jones, a retired Sydney radio broadcaster and former Australian national rugby coach accused of sexual offenses against six men and boys over two decades, began on Monday.

The 85-year-old has pleaded not guilty to 20 counts of indecent assault and two of sexual touching without consent. The offenses were allegedly committed between 2003 and 2020, when he retired from radio, at various locations in Sydney and at his farm on the Southern Highlands in New South Wales state.

Jones and his lawyers did not answer reporters’ questions as they arrived at the Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney on Monday morning. The trial is expected to hear more than 70 witnesses and continue for months.

Jones opted to be tried by Judge Glenn Walsh without a jury. None of the six complainants can be identified for legal reasons.

The first complainant testified that he had been a 14-year-old budding champion athlete when he met Jones, who later gave the athlete a phone, a car and hundreds of dollars a week to help focus on training.

The athlete said he was grateful for Jones' generosity, but their relationship was tainted by unwanted kisses and groping incidents.

The athlete described feeling trapped as he drove a car while Jones allegedly groped the athlete's genitals.

“I had one of the most powerful men in the country in the car. I had to focus on the road,” the athlete testified.

Jones’ lawyer Gabrielle Bashir said the athlete, and others, had concocted allegations.

“Rivalry, treachery, double dealing, money, hatred, desperation, opportunism and more are at the heart of this case,” Bashir said in her opening address.

She said prosecution allegations contained contamination, reconstruction and were inflamed by Jones’ media rivals.

“This court will finally see the evidence of what all the complainants did not tell police,” Bashir said.

Another complainant, who was 21 years old and worked on Jones’ radio program, would testify that Jones called him “darling” and groped the man while he was driving, prosecutor Georgina Wright told the court.

Bashir accused that complainant of rewriting his history with the broadcaster.

Jones hosted a popular Sydney breakfast radio show for close to two decades. He was regarded as one of the most powerful people in Australian media.

He was also a successful coach of the Australian national rugby team, the Wallabies, for four years from early 1984. The team won 86 of their 102 matches under his leadership.

Jones was also influential in conservative politics and was a speechwriter for Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser. Fraser was in power from 1975 until 1983. He died in 2015.

Police set up a strike force to investigate Jones after The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper reported in 2023 that Jones used his position of power, first as a schoolteacher and later as a popular broadcaster, to prey on a number of young men. Jones was charged in 2024.

Former Australian rugby coach and broadcaster Alan Jones, center, arrives at Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney, Australia Monday, Aug. 3, 2026. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP Image via AP)