Première Vision S.A., the international leader of shows dedicated to textiles and fashion industry services, is reorganising the ownership of its shareholdings. GL events is buying back the shares currently held by Eurovet, raising its participation in the company's capital from 24.50% to 49%, alongside French fabric manufacturers brought together in the Association Première Vision, which maintains a majority stake with 51% of shares.

The Association Première Vision and GL events - an international reference in the events sector and the long-time technical partner of Première Vision, will now jointly helm the company. Philippe Pasquet will be CEO and Lucien Deveaux will be chairman of the supervisory board.

Building on a brand that enjoys unparalleled international name recognition in the world of fashion and textile trade fairs, Première Vision organises the world's leading fabric show in Paris. Over the past 10 years it has created satellites of the main show in New York, Shanghai/Beijing, Moscow and most recently Sao Paulo, in a joint venture with local company Fagga Eventos, a Brazilian subsidiary of GL events. The company is also involved in complementary fields, including yarns and fibres (the Expofil brand), design (Indigo and Direction by Indigo), denim (Denim by Première Vision), trimmings and supplies for fashion and design (ModAmont, organised in partnership with Tarsus France).

Positioned in terms of a selective offer and high-value-added services, Première Vision currently organises 22 shows per year in six countries, shows that bring together 3,400 exhibitors and welcome 160,000 professional visitors. The company, based in Lyon and in Paris, had a consolidated turnover of 35 million Euros in 2009 (excluding ModAmont).

A fully integrated international group providing event solutions, also originally from Lyon, GL events operates in three major segments: organising events, management of event venues and related services. In 2010 consolidated turnover is expected to top 690 million Euros. In the fashion sector, GL events has recently become a major shareholder in Sodes, organiser of the

“In a context of accelerated concentration of businesses operating in the events sector, the strengthened ties between GL events and the Association Première Vision should allow Première Vision S.A. to foster its international development, and to further enrich its service content, as well as its portfolio of trade shows serving the fashion and accessories industries,” a statement from Première Vision said today.