After a six-year low reached in 2011, M&A (mergers and acquisitions) in the fashion sectors is picking up again. The transactions carried out in 2012 were 114, up by 25%. This is what emerges from a study carried out by the consultancy firm Pambianco.
I Private equity funds are confirmed as the most active operators on the market having completed the highest number of operations (25 in all, equal to 22% of the total).
Italy continues to be coveted prey in fashion and luxury by foreign subjects. If it is true that the greatest number of transactions was carried out between foreign subjects (68, 60% of the total), the number of transactions between Italian subjects is also good (24, or 21%) and the number of transactions carried out in Italy by foreign subjects (13, ie 11%).
In Italy, the most significant transactions were those of Valentino, sold by Permira to Mayhoola, an investment company headed by the sovereign wealth fund of Qatar. Another important operation carried out at the end of the year was the acquisition of Marni by the Diesel group. Luxottica in 2012 it acquired the Sun Planet chain, the Alain Mikli brand and a minority stake in Salmoiraghi&Viganò. Marcolin, on the other hand, was acquired by the private equity fund Pai.
