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Oakley Capital acquires heritage British brand Smythson in multi-brand expansion deal
Oakley Capital has acquired heritage British luxury label Smythson as part of a broader investment in iconic European brands. The deal, executed through Oakley’s investment vehicle Iconic BrandCo, also includes the acquisitions of Italian home furnishings label Fornasetti and premium leather goods maker Fabbrica Pelletterie Milano. Smythson, established in 1887 and renowned for its high-end…
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Oakley Capital acquires majority stake in iconic Italian design house Fornasetti
Oakley Capital has acquired a 60% stake in Immaginazione Srl, the holding company behind luxury Italian design brand Fornasetti, in a deal aimed at scaling the historic firm into a global lifestyle business. Founded by Piero Fornasetti in the 1940s and now led by his son, Barnaba Fornasetti, the Milan-based atelier is known for its…
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Inflexion exits control of Medik8 as L’Oréal deepens premium skincare push
L’Oréal has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Medik8, the British premium skincare brand, in a move that strengthens its Luxe Division’s portfolio and underscores continued private equity interest in the high-growth beauty segment. Inflexion, the mid-market private equity firm that previously backed Medik8, will retain a minority stake under the terms of the…
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Exclusive Interview: Andrei Gemeneanu on building Romania’s private equity future
Andrei Gemeneanu, Co-founder and Managing Partner of Morphosis Capital, is on a mission to put Romania firmly on the private equity map. In this candid conversation with Private Equity Insights at CEE’s Largest PE Conference, he shares his views on the regional landscape, Morphosis Capital’s growth story, and how education and values-led investing play a defining…
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Renaissance-backed Rino Mastrotto brings Prada on board with 10% stake sale
Private equity-backed leather group Rino Mastrotto has sold a 10% stake to luxury fashion house Prada, marking a strategic partnership in the high-end leather supply chain. The deal, supported by Renaissance Partners, includes a cash investment by Prada and the transfer of two tanneries – Conceria Superior in Italy and Tannerie Limoges in France –…
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Huda Beauty founder buys back equity stake from TSG Consumer, regaining full ownership
Huda Beauty has returned to full independence following the conclusion of its eight-year partnership with TSG Consumer Partners. Huda Kattan, founder and co-CEO of the global beauty brand, has bought back TSG’s minority stake, regaining full control of the company she launched in 2013. Kattan’s husband, Christopher Goncalo, serves as co-CEO alongside her, while her…
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MidEuropa hands off Optegra to EssilorLuxottica, fuelling European eye care ambitions
MidEuropa has agreed to sell Optegra, a leading European ophthalmology platform, to EssilorLuxottica. The deal, subject to regulatory approval, is expected to close later this year. Optegra operates over 70 eye hospitals and diagnostic centres across Europe, offering both medically necessary and elective vision treatments. Since acquiring the company in 2023, MidEuropa has driven Optegra’s…
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Exclusive Interview: Torge Barkholtz is rethinking SME succession through operator-led investing
Torge Barkholtz doesn’t deal in jargon. Nor does he try to dress up succession investing with flashy growth projections or hollow promises. What he’s building at Novastone Partners is far subtler and, arguably, far more ambitious: a re-engineering of how ownership changes hands in the often-overlooked world of SMEs. A founder with ventures spanning gourmet…
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Goldman Sachs backs Prada’s bold $2.77bn move to revive Versace legacy
Goldman Sachs is spearheading a $2.77bn financing package to support Prada’s proposed acquisition of Versace, according to a report from Italian daily MF. The investment bank is leading a consortium to provide €2.5bn in funding, with €1.5bn earmarked for the purchase of the Capri Holdings-owned fashion house, and the remaining €1bn allocated to revive Versace’s…
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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…