Marquee Brands has entered a definitive agreement to acquire a majority interest in Italian brand Roberto Cavalli, the New York-based brand management company announced on Wednesday. It did not disclose the terms of the acquisition.
Roberto Cavalli is Marquee’s first luxury acquisition. Its current brand portfolio includes BCBG, Laura Ashley, and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. “Roberto Cavalli stands as one of luxury’s defining Italian houses, with a bold creative identity and enduring brand ethos,” Heath Golden, CEO of Marquee Brands, said in a statement. “We see extraordinary potential to build on that foundation through thoughtful brand stewardship and strategic expansion. In partnership with Damac, a leader in luxury real estate, we will continue to elevate the Roberto Cavalli experience worldwide.”
Roberto Cavalli was founded in 1970 by the late Roberto Cavalli, and the brand broke into the mainstream with a string of buzzy red carpet moments throughout the nineties and early 2000s, earning famous fans from Aaliyah to Jennifer Lopez. “After 25 years, Roberto Cavalli has been discovered,” the designer joked in 2001. Cavalli, who died in 2024, stepped down from his eponymous label in 2015 and sold a majority stake to private equity firm Clessidra. Peter Dundas and Paul Surridge subsequently took turns serving as creative director. In 2019, Dubai-based Damac Properties acquired 100% of the brand, which it has held until today. Damac remains a shareholder. Fausto Puglisi has been the creative director since 2020.
“Roberto Cavalli is one of the most distinctive luxury brands in the world. After several years of solidifying the brand’s foundation, we set out to find a strategic partner with the skillset to take the brand to the next level. We are confident Marquee Brands is the right partner to do so,” Hussain Sajwani, founder of Damac Group, said in a statement. Going forward, Damac will expand the brand via branded residences and hospitality projects, he added. “This collaboration marks an exciting new era for the brand. We look forward to its significant future expansion.”
The group plans to introduce new categories to the brand and expand its touchpoints across Europe, the UK, the US, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, and Latin America.
Marquee is the latest in a line of brand management firms looking to push into the luxury space. Just last week, WHP Global announced its much-anticipated acquisition of Marc Jacobs from LVMH. Milan-based partner The Level Group (TLG) will be Marquee’s core operating partner and lead the development, manufacturing, and distribution of Cavalli collections, as well as the brand’s retail and e‑commerce operations and wholesale distribution.
“Marquee Brands has established a proven, capital‑efficient business model for driving growth through disciplined brand management, strategic partnerships, and a long-term investment horizon,” Zachary Sigel, managing director at Neuberger and co-founder of Marquee Brands, said in a statement.
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