-
Missoni family passes baton as FSI takes control of €130m fashion house
FSI has become the controlling shareholder of Missoni, increasing its stake in the Italian fashion group rather than pursuing a sale to international buyers, according to Italian daily Il Sole 24 Ore. The transaction preserves domestic ownership of the brand, which has been a symbol of Italian luxury since 1953. FSI will partner with the Fassin and Bachmueller…
-
From ABBA to heritage forests: the unexpected marriage driving the next wave of alternatives
A growing number of LPs is looking for assets that sit outside public-market cycles, and yet that still carry a clear sense of purpose. They want predictable cash flows, but they also want investments tied to real cultural or environmental value. In most corners of private equity, “alternative investing” means infrastructure, credit, or secondaries. At…
-
“Cash is king, and anything else is an opinion”: private equity’s return to fundamentals
After a decade of easy money and multiple expansion, European private equity is rediscovering what value creation really means. At the DACH Private Equity Insights Conference in Munich, senior executives from Deutsche Private Equity, Bridgepoint, Eevolve, and Apheon agreed that the model is far from broken. However, the era when buyout firms could rely on cheap leverage…
-
L Catterton appoints former British Fashion Council chair Stephanie Phair as senior adviser
L Catterton, the LVMH-backed private equity firm, has appointed Stephanie Phair as senior adviser, expanding its global bench of consumer-focused expertise, WWD reports. Phair, who chaired the British Fashion Council between 2018 and 2022, will work with L Catterton’s portfolio companies worldwide, leveraging her experience across fashion, e-commerce, and consumer industries. She previously served as…
-
All eyes on Versace: Gucci Ex-CEO joins high-stakes bid for iconic fashion house
Former Gucci CEO Marco Bizzarri is reportedly pursuing an acquisition of Versace through his investment firm, Nessifashion. The $6bn sale of the iconic Italian brand, owned by Capri Holdings, has attracted high-profile bidders, including Prada Group, Investcorp, and private equity firm Permira. Barclays, which is managing the process, expects final bids in February 2025. Bizzarri’s…
-
Golden Goose gains strategic investment from Blue Pool Capital
Golden Goose, the Italian luxury sneakers and apparel brand, has secured a 12% minority investment from Blue Pool Capital, a Hong Kong-based investment firm. The deal, completed after Golden Goose postponed its planned IPO in June 2024, allows Permira to maintain its majority ownership. CEO Silvio Campara welcomed Blue Pool as a strategic partner, highlighting…
-
HongShan Capital nears $1.1bn acquisition of iconic audio brand Marshall
HongShan Capital Group, the private equity firm previously known as Sequoia China, is in advanced talks to acquire Marshall Group, the iconic audio equipment maker, for $1.1bn. The Stockholm-based company is famous for its guitar amplifiers, used by legendary musicians such as Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and Lana Del Rey. The founding Marshall family is…
-
Kim Kardashian’s Skky Partners acquires minority stake in UK-based skincare brand
SKKY Partners, the consumer-focused private equity firm co-founded by Kim Kardashian and Jay Sammons, made a “significant” minority investment in luxury skincare brand 111Skin. This investment aims to support 111Skin’s expansion of its direct-to-consumer operations. It also aims to enhance its presence in Asia and North America, although exact financial terms remain undisclosed. Founded in…
-
Gucci owner sells €837m stakes in Paris properties to private equity firm Ardian
Kering, the luxury group behind Gucci and Saint Laurent, has sold 60% of its stakes in three prime Paris properties to French private equity firm Ardian for €837m. The properties, located in Place Vendôme and Avenue Montaigne, house flagship stores for Balenciaga, Valentino, and Boucheron. Kering will retain 40% ownership and secure its brands’ continued…
-
Prada explores acquisition of Versace from Capri Holdings
Prada is evaluating a potential acquisition of Versace from Capri Holdings, with Citi acting as its adviser. Capri Holdings has engaged Barclays to identify potential buyers for Versace, attracting interest from private equity funds and other fashion groups. This development follows Tapestry’s decision in November to abandon its $8.5bn acquisition deal for Capri, the parent…