French manufacturer Groupe Lécuyer buys storied trunk maker Moreau Paris

Cardinal Invest, owner of French luxury manufacturer Groupe Lécuyer, has acquired Moreau Paris, a 19th-century French trunk maker known for the wicker-inspired monogram it introduced in 1882. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The purchase followed a court-supervised sale of Moreau's key brand assets, after a group of retail entrepreneurs opted to sell when landlord negotiations spiralled into a larger process. Cardinal Invest was declared the winner in July 2026.

The process began in June 2026, with binding offers due by 9 July 2026. The Paris Commercial Court chose the buyer based on offer price, financial capacity, and development plan, drawing interest from dozens of strategic and financial investors across Europe, Asia, and North America.

Moreau had north of €10 million in annual sales in the years leading up to the sale. Roughly 80% of revenue came from outside Europe — via three stores in Japan, where sales grew 30% between 2022 and 2025, plus franchise boutiques in Mexico City, Manila, and Houston.

Groupe Lécuyer, owned by the Odend'hal family and based in Normandy, brings more than three centuries of leather goods and textile manufacturing and employs about 800 people. "Our ambition is to build on everything that makes the maison unique while investing in its products, craftsmanship and global development," said chief executive officer Charles Odend'hal.

Liquidator Asteren said the deal gives Moreau strengthened industrial capabilities, expanded international distribution, and long-term financial support while preserving its identity. Groupe Lécuyer's expertise will complement Moreau's Italian production, which turns out bags like its top-handle Sophie model.

Founded by descendants of cabinetmaker Louis Moreau in 1764, revived in 2010 and passed through several owners since, Moreau is considered one of the last independent Paris monogram houses. Its sale underscores the enduring appeal of France's luxury sector to investors.