The Tamesis
New York-based brand management company Marquee Brands announced on Wednesday that it has reached a final agreement to acquire a majority stake in Italian brand Roberto Cavalli. It did not disclose terms of the acquisition.
Roberto Cavalli is the first luxury brand acquired by Marquee. Its current brand portfolio includes BCBG, Laura Ashley and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. “Roberto Cavalli is one of the epitome of Italian luxury brands with bold creativity and enduring brand ethos,” Marquee Brands CEO Heath Golden said in a statement. “We see tremendous potential to build on this foundation through thoughtful brand management and strategic expansion. Partnering with luxury real estate leader DAMAC, we will continue to enhance the Roberto Cavalli experience around the world.”
Founded in 1970 by the late Roberto Cavalli, the brand broke into the mainstream with a string of hilarious red carpet moments throughout the ’90s and early 2000s, winning famous fans ranging from Aaliyah to Jennifer Lopez. “After 25 years, Roberto Cavalli was discovered,” the designer joked in 2001. Cavalli, who died in 2024, resigned from his eponymous brand in 2015 and sold a majority stake to private equity firm Clessidra. Peter Dundas and Paul Surridge subsequently took turns as creative directors. In 2019, Dubai-based Damac Properties acquired 100% of the brand and has held it ever since. DAMAC remains a shareholder. Fausto Puglisi has been creative director since 2020.
Hussain Sajwani, founder of Damac Group, said in a statement: “Roberto Cavalli is one of the most distinctive luxury brands in the world. After several years of strengthening the brand’s foundation, we began to look for a strategic partner with the skills to take the brand to the next level. We believe that Marquee Brands is the right partner to achieve this goal.” He added that going forward, Damac will expand the brand through branded residential and hotel projects. “This partnership marks an exciting new era for the brand. We look forward to significant future expansion.”
The group plans to introduce new categories to the brand and expand its touchpoints in Europe, the UK, the US, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Latin America.
Marquee is the latest in a series of brand management companies looking to expand into the luxury sector. Just last week, WHP Global announced the acquisition of the highly anticipated Marc Jacobs from LVMH. Milan-based partner The Level Group (TLG) will become Marquee’s core operating partner, leading the development, manufacturing and distribution of the Cavalli range, as well as the brand’s retail and e-commerce operations and wholesale distribution.
“Marquee Brands has built a proven, capital-efficient business model that drives 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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