Controversy between Elite Group and Aeffe

The Aeffe Group, owner of the Alberta Ferretti and Pollini brands, recently stated that it had “unilaterally decided to terminate license contracts with the Elite Group for the production and distribution of eyewear with the Alberta Ferretti and Pollini labels”. According to the group in San Giovanni in Marignano, the reasons for this early divorce is the licensee’s financial situation and the need to guarantee maximum protection for its brands. Aeffe also pointed out that turnover from license contracts with Elite was about 0.1% of its total billings of 297 million euros in financial year 2008”.

For its part, the Elite Group underscored that: “Elite Group S.p.A. operates at international level in the sector for the production and sale of eyewear. To protect its image and credibility with its international distributors, the Elite Group has decided to take legal action against Aeffe S.p.A..
Legal action will aim at claiming damages caused by the Aeffe Group’s termination of the existing license contracts, which the Elite Group maintains was unexpected and unjustified. Termination was communicated by Aeffe after the approval of the eyewear collection, which the Elite Group would have presented at the next MIDO, and despite the fact that, after making considerable investments, the Elite Group has been distributing the Alberta Ferretti brand only since September 2008.”