Missoni founding family exits as FSI takes control
Italian luxury fashion house Missoni is changing hands. Milan-based private equity firm FSI will become the controlling shareholder with a 73% stake, up from its existing 41.2% holding, as the Missoni founding family exits its equity position entirely. German consumer brands group Katjes International, through its subsidiary Katjes Quiet Luxury, has signed an agreement to acquire approximately 27% of the company. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Transaction snapshot
Deal value: Undisclosed
Deal multiples: N/A (undisclosed deal value). For context, revenue has doubled to approximately €130m ($A214.5m), and EBITDA is expected to reach roughly €20m ($A33m) this year
Deal type: Equity restructure — existing shareholder (FSI) acquiring remaining family-held shares to become majority owner; new minority investor (Katjes International) entering via share acquisition with a call option to become majority shareholder in future
Investors: FSI (73% controlling stake); Katjes International via Katjes Quiet Luxury (~27% minority stake)
Missoni, famous for its signature zigzag patterns, was founded in 1953 in Varese by Ottavio and Rosita Missoni. The brand operates across fashion, swimwear, lifestyle products, resorts and interior design.
The deal ends months of speculation. FSI was believed to be looking at an exit, with the brand said to be in exclusive talks with Authentic Brands Group, the New York-based owner of Reebok and Champion. Instead, FSI doubled down, acquiring the family's remaining shares to take its stake from 41.2% to 73%.
Katjes International signed the agreement on 3 March 2026 through its wholly owned subsidiary Katjes Quiet Luxury. The structure includes market-standard drag-along and tag-along rights. Katjes also holds a call option on FSI's shares, giving it the potential to become the majority shareholder in the future. The closing of the transaction is subject to antitrust approval and is expected in Q2 2026.
On the operating side, Missoni's performance has strengthened materially since FSI first invested in 2018. A public filing lists 2023 revenue at €120m ($A198m), up from €96m($A198m), up from €96m ($A198m), up from €96m ($A158.4m) in 2021. The Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter 2026 collections, led by creative director Alberto Caliri, recorded sales growth of 30%, outperforming several larger luxury peers.
The leadership team remains unchanged. Livio Proli, a Giorgio Armani veteran who joined Missoni in 2020, will stay on as CEO. Barnaba Ravanne, co-founder of FSI, continues as president. The Missoni family will continue to lead the Fondazione Ottavio e Rosita Missoni.
Katjes International, part of the broader Katjes Group headquartered in Düsseldorf, focuses on acquiring companies with strong established consumer brands across Europe. Its investments include Italian food companies Paluani and Sperlari, as well as fragrance company Antica Erboristeria. Following the majority acquisition of Bogner, Katjes Quiet Luxury continues its growth path, strengthening its portfolio with another iconic European consumer brand.
