Fashion Investments and M&A

Date: March 2024
Buyer: OTB Group
Target: Calzaturificio Stephen
Business: Italian luxury footwear brand
Value: Undisclosed
Details: OTB Group (owner of Viktor&Rolf, Maison Margiela, and Diesel, amongst others) has acquired a majority shareholding in luxury Italian footwear brand Calzaturificio Stephen (“CS”). The Bertollo family, who founded the business in 1967, continue to maintain a stake in the business and will continue to run the business going forward. CS has been a supplier to OTB Group for over 20 years, supplying luxury footwear to OTB Group’s brands, and OTB has been increasing its shareholding in CS for some time. The acquisition is part of OTB’s plan to optimise its supply chain, by acquiring Italy-based companies to help in the development of its brands.