The Poltrona Frau Group’s Cassina has acquired the Italian furniture company Simon for 2.1 million Euros or 2.7 million dollars from its parent company Estel. The move is expected to create record revenues of 15 million Euros over the next five years.

New items in the Cassina Simon collection

Poltrona Frau Group is on a mission to acquire classic Italian design brands that “express and disseminate Italian excellence and culture across the world,” according to Dario Rinero, CEO of the Poltrona Frau Group, which includes including Poltrona Frau, Cassina and Cappellini.

Niemeyer by Oscar Niemeyer for Simon, 1985

With the acquisition of Simon, Cassina will further enrich its catalogue prestige, adding high-profile names such as Carlo Scarpa, Marcel Breuer, Man Ray and Kazuhide Takahama to its already impressive list of architects and designers including Le Corbusier, Charlotte Perriand, Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Gerrit Rietveld.

Fausto by Novello Finotti for Simon, 1972; Traccia by Meret Oppenheim for Simon, 1939/1972

The catalogues will also have a particular emphasis on product ranges that are less represented by the current collection of Cassina, such as tables, containers, chairs and office furniture.

Vanessa by Tobia Scarpa for Simon, 1959/2005. Lacquered metal frame, headboard and foot rest. Available in China red, white or black.

Simon products will be integrated with Cassina’s international distribution, which represents 80% of its revenues, enabling significant growth of Simon products outside of Italy.

Siviglia by Kazuhide Takahama for Simon, 1974; Magritta by Sebastian Matta for Simon, 1971

The global presentation of the project to customers and the press will take place in September at the historic Cassina space in Via Durini, Milan and will involve an exhibition, a press conference and a series of meetings with the sales network.

Gaja by Kazuhide Takahama for Simon, 1974

Simon was founded in 1968 when Dino Gavina put together the works of some of the leading figures in architecture and modern art of that time. This catalogue aims to unite the cultural experiences of all those products which have borne witness to and gone to make up a collection of products which, over the years, have gone on to become cult pieces for lovers of design.