Who will take over the Côte d’Azur group Aqualung?

Last March, the Austrian Head Group announced that it had entered into exclusive negotiations to acquire the French Riviera-based Aqualung. Owned since 2023 by the American investment company Barings, the world leader in diving equipment is currently undergoing receivership proceedings.

A second buyer was announced on Wednesday, June 18, at the Nice Commercial Court: Bruno Cercley, former CEO of the Rossignol Group, which is backed by ODE Sports, a major player in Asia.

The two offerings are different. With Head Group, Aqualung , which would become part of a larger outdoor group, would become a center of expertise in France for certain product categories, including regulators. All of its core functions are expected to be relocated to Austria and Italy.

ODE Sports and Bruno Cercley propose to centralize all essential management functions in Carros and to internalize logistics.

According to Bruno Cercley, his offer would allow for the retention of approximately 70 more positions than Head Group's. The Nice Commercial Court responded on June 26.