BDA advises DAMAC on majority sale of Roberto Cavalli to Marquee Brands and The Level Group

BDA Partners is pleased to announce that its client, DAMAC Group, based in the UAE, has agreed to sell a majority interest in Roberto Cavalli. Cavalli is an iconic luxury house celebrated for its avant-garde design and distinct Italian craftsmanship. The buyer is Marquee Brands, a Neuberger Berman-backed premier accelerator of timeless brands. DAMAC Group will retain a significant minority stake in the business.

BDA Partners served as financial advisor to DAMAC.

Marquee Brands, the premier global brand management company and leading brand accelerator, will take a majority interest in Roberto Cavalli, through a strategic partnership with DAMAC, the leading Dubai-based conglomerate & real estate developer. The transaction is expected to close in June.

Founded in Florence in 1970, Roberto Cavalli is an iconic luxury house. It joins Marquee’s portfolio including Martha Stewart, Laura Ashley, Sur La Table, BCBGMAXAZRIA and Stance. Cavalli strengthens Marquee’s position as a leader in luxury & lifestyle, bringing portfolio-wide retail sales to US$5bn. 

Marquee Brands is owned by funds managed by Neuberger, an investment management firm. Marquee continues to scale its platform, acquiring heritage brands with deep consumer resonance. Cavalli marks the 22nd brand in Marquee’s portfolio.

As part of the transaction, Marquee Brands announces Milan-based partner The Level Group (TLG) as its core operating partner. TLG will lead development, manufacturing and distribution of the brand’s women’s & men’s collections, ensuring a unified, elevated product vision across key markets. TLG will assume responsibility for retail & ecommerce operations and wholesale distribution in Europe and the US, strengthening Cavalli’s direct-to-consumer presence.

Heath Golden, CEO, Marquee Brands, said: “Roberto Cavalli stands as one of luxury’s defining Italian houses, with a bold creative identity and enduring brand ethos. We see extraordinary potential to build on that foundation through thoughtful brand stewardship and strategic expansion. In partnership with DAMAC, we’ll continue to elevate the Roberto Cavalli experience worldwide.”

Hussain Sajwani, Founder, DAMAC Group, said: “Roberto Cavalli is one of the most distinctive luxury brands in the world. After 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. Given our love for the brand and meaningful ongoing shareholdings, we look forward to supporting Marquee Brands’ efforts, continuing to expand the Roberto Cavalli lifestyle through branded residences and hospitality projects in premier global destinations, an area that remains fully owned and operated by DAMAC. This collaboration marks an exciting new era for the brand. We look forward to its significant future expansion.”

Zachary Sigel, Managing Director at Neuberger and Co-Founder of Marquee Brands, said: “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. The acquisition of Roberto Cavalli reinforces Neuberger’s confidence in the platform and its ability to continue to create value for investors.”

Euan Rellie, Managing Partner, BDA Partners, said: “BDA is honoured to have brought together DAMAC, Marquee, and Neuberger in this partnership. Roberto Cavalli is undeniably iconic. Its founder was the ‘King of Excess’. His label revolutionized fashion in the 1980s and 1990s, championing glamorous maximalism, sensual silhouettes, bold animal prints. This sumptuous brand is poised to scale new heights.”

The partnership between Marquee Brands and DAMAC expands the global reach of the Cavalli brand, bringing together complementary strengths and shared commitment to elevating the legendary maison. Marquee Brands will accelerate Cavalli’s growth, introducing new categories, services & experiential touchpoints across Europe, the UK, the US, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Latin America.

DAMAC will continue to scale the brand through Roberto Cavalli-branded residences and hospitality projects across key global markets, reinforcing the brand’s luxury position and desirability. The partnership creates a powerful platform that unites Marquee Brands’ expertise in global brand development with DAMAC’s leadership in luxury real estate and hospitality, unlocking significant opportunities for the future of Roberto Cavalli.