The rumors were rife. Beretta had acquired Holland & Holland, the London firm famous for its fine guns and rifles. Enquiries revealed only a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. And then on February 1 came the announcement: “Beretta Holding expands its presence in the UK with the prestigious acquisition of Holland & Holland. Beretta Holding has signed an agreement for the acquisition of 100% of Holland and Holland Ltd.” Included in the acquisition were the Holland & Holland Shooting Grounds, in West London.
The press release went on to say, “Beretta Holding has been looking to acquire a premium luxury brand, and Holland & Holland is a fitting partner, fulfilling all the elements of the finest gun-making: a rich history, independent manufacturing facilities, and outstanding products. Beretta Holding wishes to preserve the precious heritage of Holland & Holland in the United Kingdom with a high dedication to skilled craftsmanship.”
Beretta Holding S.A. is based in Gardone Val Trompia, Italy, and there are more than 30 companies under its corporate umbrella, including Beretta, Benelli, Sako, Franchi, Tikka, Uberti and Chapuis. It is not a manufacturing company and does not trade on any stock exchange.
Holland & Holland was started in 1835 by Harris Holland, who initially offered muzzleloaders before turning to breechloaders. In 1876 Holland took his nephew into partnership, and the company name became Holland & Holland. The firm holds an unambiguous place in the world of gunmaking as the maker of Royal sidelock guns and rifles (pictured). Representing the pinnacle of gunmaking and an uncompromising commitment to quality and style, the Royal design has been widely copied. It even provided the inspiration for the Beretta Imperiale Montecarlo side-by-side.
According to Pietro Gussalli Beretta, president and CEO of Beretta Holding: “This is a truly exciting development and a great achievement for the Beretta family, further increasing the Group’s international footprint. Faced with the Brexit challenges, I am very pleased to increase our direct presence in the important UK market, where we are already active with our well-established distribution subsidiary.”
For more information on Holland & Holland, visit hollandandholland.com.
