THERMASOL acquired by HARVIA

Deutsche Beteiligungs AG (DBAG), through its DBAG Fund VIII, acquires a majority stake in Great Lengths, an Italian B2B manufacturer and distributor of natural hair extensions for professional salon networks worldwide. The transaction reflects DBAG’s strategy of partnering with founder-led businesses operating in specialised, export-driven industrial niches with integrated production capabilities. The structure includes a significant reinvestment by the founding Antonino family, ensuring continued entrepreneurial involvement and strategic alignment with the incoming majority shareholder. Governance is organised around a partnership model combining financial sponsorship with family ownership continuity, supporting long-term international expansion. The transaction perimeter covers an integrated industrial platform combining in-house manufacturing, specialised distribution channels, and a premium positioning within the professional hair extensions segment. The business is characterised by a strong export profile and direct exposure to global salon networks. The investment thesis is centred on cross-border expansion and consolidation within a fragmented niche market, where competitive advantage is driven by value chain control and product quality differentiation. DBAG’s objective is to accelerate geographic expansion, strengthen commercial capabilities, and optimise operational structures while preserving the company’s premium positioning and established ESG standards.

Permira, the global private equity firm, has agreed to acquire a 40% minority stake in K-Way, the iconic French outerwear brand, from its Italian parent company BasicNet. This partnership is designed to unlock the next phase of K-Way's global expansion. BasicNet, which acquired the distressed brand in 2004 and successfully repositioned it from a functional utility item into a premium lifestyle label (generating EUR147.7 million in revenue in 2023), sought a partner with deep consumer expertise to scale operations internationally.

Ardian is acquiring a majority stake in Groupe Hameur (Magimix and Robot-Coupe) from the De Jenlis Family. The transaction was structured as a primary LBO following a competitive auction process managed by investment banks. The process initially attracted interest from both strategic industrial players and a dozen private equity firms, eventually narrowing down to a final round involving three major global investment houses. The investment strategy is centered on accelerating growth in key international markets, particularly the United States, by leveraging the acquirer's local expertise. Beyond organic growth, the partnership aims to consolidate the fragmented market for professional culinary equipment through targeted bolt-on acquisitions. The founding family remains a minority shareholder to support this new phase of international expansion.

The exit of L&S from the Clessidra Capital Partners 3 portfolio represents a successful structural maturation of an Italian design champion into a global industrial leader. The strategic rationale for this transaction centers on a "market-consolidation" play, leveraging the target's industry-leading technical operational depth in embedded LED systems to fuel a new phase of international buy-and-build activity. This structural alignment provides the organization with the institutional capital and global network of the new sponsor, which is required to address the increasing complexity of smart-home integration and sustainable commercial lighting.

PAI Partners entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a 51% controlling stake in Beautynova from Bluegem Capital Partners to accelerate the group's global scaling. This strategic move follows a period of rapid transformation under Bluegem’s ownership since 2020, during which the company tripled its sales and expanded significantly into the US market. Post-transaction, Bluegem retains a 47% minority interest alongside a syndicate of co-investors and the company’s management team, ensuring continuity in leadership and strategy. The partnership is designed to leverage PAI's international infrastructure to further penetrate the resilient high-end beauty sector and set new industry standards in innovative product development.

Style Capital acquired a 50.2% controlling stake in Autry International from the "Made in Italy Fund" (managed by Quadrivio & Pambianco) and the founding family. The family retains a significant 42% stake, while Quadrivio reinvests for an 8% minority stake via its new vehicle "Lifestyle Fund II". The deal marks a highly successful exit for the sellers, generating a 4x Cash-on-Cash return and 75% IRR in less than 3 years. The new ownership aims to pivot the brand from a wholesale-led model to a retail-led model, with plans to open over 20 flagship stores globally.

Suave Brands Company, a portfolio company of Yellow Wood Partners, has acquired the ChapStick brand from Haleon. The deal positions ChapStick within a dedicated, independent North American beauty & personal care platform, combining its leading lip‑care franchise with Suave’s value‑oriented mass‑retail footprint and operational capabilities. The acquisition is intended to create synergies in distribution, back‑office functions, and marketing, while enabling Suave Brands Company to scale its retail sales to approximately USD 800 million annually. The transaction illustrates Yellow Wood’s strategy of building a limited number of branded consumer platforms through bolt‑on acquisitions and deep operational engagement.

Kering Beauté has finalized the acquisition of 100% of House of Creed from funds controlled by BlackRock Long Term Private Capital Europe and Chairman Javier Ferrán. The all-cash transaction represents the buyer's first major strategic initiative to build scale within the high-growth haute parfumerie market segment. The asset transfer instantly provides the acquirer's young beauty division with institutional scale and a mature global distribution footprint. This logistical network is designed to serve as an operating platform to accelerate the development of the buyer's future in-house fragrance portfolios. Post-acquisition management intends to scale the target's presence in mainland China and international travel retail channels while expanding into feminine scents and body care categories. Following unconditional clearance from relevant anti-trust authorities, operational control has been transferred and the business is fully consolidated.

Style Capital has acquired an 80% stake in Sœur from Experienced Capital (ECP) and the brand’s founders. The transaction marks a highly successful exit for ECP, which realized a "6x money" return on its initial 2016 investment. The founding Brion sisters will retain a 20% minority stake and remain active in the business alongside CEO Freja Day. The strategic rationale for the deal is to accelerate Sœur’s international expansion, with the objective of reaching 50% of sales outside of France. The transaction was structured as a Leveraged Buyout (LBO) with "reasonable leverage," financed equally by the Italian fund Ver Capital and a pool of Sœur’s historical banks, including BNP Paribas and LCL. This partnership positions Sœur to leverage Style Capital's proven track record in globalizing contemporary fashion brands.

The global private equity firm Advent International has acquired a majority stake in the group owning the niche fragrance houses Parfums de Marly and Initio Parfums Prives. The founder, Julien Sprecher, reinvests alongside Advent. The partnership aims to accelerate the brands' global expansion, particularly in Asia and the Americas, and to strengthen their omnichannel distribution network. This transaction underscores the booming interest of financial investors in high-growth niche perfumery assets.