Is Jimmy Choo For Sale?

Jimmy Choo owners Labelux could be looking to sell a share of the brand, which is valued at more than £1 billion. A source close to the label told The Sunday Times that it is considering an IPO as early as this year, and has held "preliminary meetings" with bankers to discuss it. Despite the rumours, however, other sources said that the IPO could be some time away.

"Labelux has a long-term vision and development plan for Jimmy Choo and has no intention of giving up control of the company," industry sources told  WWD. "If there is any listing at all, it will be a minority one. The company has been expanding over the past three years, and it's a very normal process to discuss the next steps to accelerate growth. The reality is that anything can happen in this climate: There is a financial bubble that favours IPOs now, but anything can happen to change that."

Jimmy Choo

Labelux, which also controls Bally and Belstaff, was said to have paid around 500 million for Jimmy Choo in 2011.Tamara Mellon - who founded Choo with the shoemaker of the same name in 1996 - sold the label and has since launched an eponymous lifestyle brand.Choo has also followed his own path since the sale,still creating shoes for private clients as well as teaching students his craft.

Brands including Versace, Marni and Balmain have been the subject of IPO rumours in recent months, while labels including Michael Kors and Moncler have become billion-dollar brands thanks to successful listings.