Watch manufacturer Rodania in Belgian hands

“Ro-da-ni-aaaa!”

Every cyclist fan knows the famous Rodania tune, but almost nobody has heard of the brand’s owner, called Montebi. Capital Partners acquired the Swiss company 8 years ago from the Swiss-Belgian Aebi family, but now the brand has returned to Belgian hands thanks to the sale to Capital & Ideas, which belongs to Belgian entrepreneur Philip Cracco.

Rodania was founded in 1930 in the Swiss town of Lengnau and is currently on sale in some 2,000 stores. It is also the most well-known brand in Montebi’s portfolio, representing about half of the group’s turnover (15 million euro). Montebi also has other watch brands (Maurice Lacroix, Michel Herbelin, Daniel Wellington and a license for Olivier Strelli), alongside jewelry brands like Nona Gold, Nona Silver and Innocence.