Valentino Headed For An IPO?

The owners of Valentino Group SpA are rumoured to be looking at an Initial Public Offering (IPO) of the Italian fashion company, reports Bloomberg, which would value the fashion house at €2 billion.

Qatari-based investment company Mayhoola For Investments SPC bought Valentino from Permira Advisors in 2012 for a rumoured €700 million. They are said to be considering selling "25 to 35 per cent of the business in a share sale as early as the first half of next year," according to a source close to the deal.

"The shareholders and management of Valentino confirm their total commitment to support and continue to grow the global presence of the brand. Mayhoola reconfirms their intention stated at the acquisition of Valentino in 2012 that the ambition and the plan is to build a successful platform for a Luxury Brands Group," read a statement from Valentino this morning. "For that purpose the growth plan of Valentino will continue to be the prime focus of the shareholders and the management. At the same time all means to proper establish and empower the financial structure of such Luxury Group is explored with our financial advisers including a public company structure without any decision at this stage."

It's been a busy year for Mayhoola. In April it announced that it would purchase 30.7 per cent of the Turkish distributor of luxury brands (including Dolce & Gabbana and Christian Dior) to add to its roster of existing stakes in a number of prestigious fashion brands including Anya Hindmarch Ltd.