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$1bn Color Wow sale draws private equity interest as beauty sector dealflow accelerates
Color Wow, the fast-growing haircare brand founded by Gail Federici, is exploring a sale that could fetch a valuation of approximately $1bn, according to Reuters. Boutique advisory firm Houlihan Lokey is running the process, which has attracted significant interest from private equity firms and strategic buyers eyeing growth in the premium beauty segment. Color Wow…
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K-beauty boom fuels $1.6bn deal spree as private equity chases South Korea’s rising stars
South Korea’s booming cosmetics sector has captured the attention of private equity firms, with 18 deals totalling KRW2.3tn ($1.6bn) recorded in 2024, according to Bloomberg. The sharp rise in M&A activity comes as the country becomes the top cosmetics exporter to the US, overtaking France. Strong US demand, powered by K-pop and K-drama-driven brand visibility,…
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Prada nears landmark Versace acquisition in a €1.5bn power play
Prada is nearing a deal to acquire Versace for nearly €1.5b, in what could be one of the biggest shake-ups in Italian luxury. According to sources close to the negotiations, Prada and Capri Holdings – Versace’s parent company – are expected to finalize the deal this month, provided talks remain on course. The acquisition would…
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L Catterton-backed Birkenstock faces legal hurdle in design protection effort
Birkenstock, the German footwear brand backed by private equity firm L Catterton, lost a key legal battle as Germany’s highest civil court ruled that its sandals do not qualify as copyrighted works of art. The decision allows competitors, including retailer Tchibo, to continue selling similar models, posing a challenge to Birkenstock’s brand protection strategy. L…
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1686 Partners invests in luxury eyewear brand Ahlem to drive global expansion
Ahlem, the Los Angeles-based luxury eyewear brand, has secured its first external investment from Luxembourg-based private equity firm 1686 Partners. The firm, which specializes in purpose-driven lifestyle companies, will support Ahlem’s global growth by enhancing its retail footprint, client services, wholesale operations, marketing, and production capacity. While the financial details of the transaction remain undisclosed,…
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Huda Beauty reclaims independence as Mona Kattan and General Atlantic take over KAYALI
Huda Beauty is redefining its future with the sale of its fragrance brand, KAYALI, to co-founder Mona Kattan and private equity firm General Atlantic. This strategic move paves the way for Huda Beauty to regain full founder ownership, marking a rare milestone in the beauty industry. Founded in 2018 by Mona Kattan under the Huda…
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Editorial: The Deals, Disruptions, and Power Shifts Shaping Luxury
Luxury fashion is no longer just about the clothes. I hasn’t been for a long time now. It’s an intricate chessboard where billion-dollar gambits, power struggles, and seismic creative shifts determine who reigns supreme. The stakes? Cultural dominance, financial empires, and the future of an industry in flux. It’s a high-stakes arena where billion-dollar deals…
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Steve Madden expands global portfolio with £289m Kurt Geiger acquisition
Steve Madden has announced its acquisition of UK-based footwear and accessories brand Kurt Geiger in a deal valued at approximately £289m. The transaction sees the US fashion powerhouse acquire the British brand from private equity firm Cinven, as it looks to strengthen its international presence and expand its portfolio of accessories. The acquisition brings Kurt Geiger…
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The Skincare Boom Is Real. So Is the Reckoning
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Editor’s Letter – Fashion’s Next Act: A Tale of Reinvention
I have always found fashion to be deeply embedded in transformation – of materials into garments, of trends into cultural markers, of businesses into empires. But today, there is something about the industry’s evolution that feels particularly cinematic. Private equity titans, together with legacy designers, and rising investors are rewriting the script of a high-stakes…