Major Move! Flos B&B Italia Group Sells Renowned Luminaire Brand Louis Poulsen

Flos B&B Italia Group recently announced that it has agreed to sell the 152-year-old Danish lighting manufacturer Louis Poulsen to Chr. Augustinus Fabrikker, an investment company under a Danish foundation. According to foreign media, the transaction amount is approximately €470 million (about $541 million; ¥3.66 billion RMB ).

Data shows that Flos B&B Italia is a leading enterprise in the global high-end design field, rooted in European design culture, headquartered in Italy, jointly owned by private equity firms Investindustrial and Carlyle, and acquired Louis Poulsen in 2018. This acquisition means that one of the world's most recognizable top-tier luminaire brands has ended its eight-year Italian holding phase and returned to Danish local control.

Flos brand (Image source: Flos B&B Italia official website)

Louis Poulsen, founded in 1874, upholds the philosophy of 'shaping light through design', rooted in Danish design tradition. Every piece strives to achieve a balance between function, form, and spatial atmosphere, producing numerous enduring classic decorative lighting fixtures.

(Source: Louis Poulsen official website)

Chr. Augustinus Fabrikker was founded in 1750 as a tobacco company in Copenhagen; today it operates as the commercial investment arm of the Augustinus Foundation, which funds art, culture, and research in Denmark. The company's balance sheet exceeds DKK 35 billion (USD 5.3 billion), with holdings in 18 companies, maintaining a long-standing focus on high-quality Danish enterprises, including past collaborations with design firms such as Fritz Hansen.

Claus Gregersen, CEO of Chr. Augustinus Fabrikker, stated: "Louis Poulsen holds an iconic status in the Danish design community, operates soundly, and possesses significant potential for international growth."

Piero Gandini, Executive Chairman of the Flos B&B Italia Group, stated that buyers possess "deep cultural heritage and a long-term vision" that will support Louis Poulsen's growth while safeguarding the brand's legacy.

For Flos B&B Italia, this sale will help the group reduce debt and streamline its brand asset matrix; the group will retain brands such as Flos, B&B Italia, Maxalto, Arclinea, Azucena, Audo, and Lumens.

Louis Poulsen has a solid financial position. In 2025, it achieved revenue of 966 million Danish kroner (approximately $145 million), EBITDA of 286 million Danish kroner (about $43 million), and a profit margin of 30%. Flos B&B Italia stated that this impressive performance was driven by expansion into end-consumer channels; deepening presence in overseas markets such as the US and Japan; and continuous iteration of its classic product lines, including the PH series, Panthella, Koglen, AJ luminaire, among others.

This transaction covers 100% equity and is expected to be completed in the second half of 2026, pending regulatory approval.