Apheon announces sale of majority stake in Visionnaire

Apheon, a leading pan-European mid-market private equity firm, is pleased to announce the sale of its majority stake in IPE Visionnaire, concluding its successful partnership with the Cavalli family, founders of the meta-luxury brand.

Established by the Cavalli family in 1959 and based in Bologna, Italy, Visionnaire is the leading Italian design brand of bespoke luxury furniture, catering to the uppermost segment of the luxury market.

Under the family leadership of Leopoldo Cavalli and Eleonore Cavalli, Visionnaire has become synonymous with luxury, innovation and impeccable Italian craftsmanship, renowned for customizable full-home design solutions. Visionnaire currently operates in more than 55 countries worldwide.

Apheon acquired a majority stake in 2014 in an LBO backing the Cavalli family, with the aim of accelerating the international expansion of the leading Italian luxury brand. Over the course of Apheon’s investment, the Company underwent a full management build out across different functions and refocused its strategy away from a concentrated end clientele in Eastern Europe, to address the global market by driving expansion internationally.

Apheon is pleased to exit its majority stake to FOREL, an Italian investment company that invests in fashion, luxury and design, advised and backed by Marco Bizzarri, former CEO of Gucci, and a team of luxury experts. As part of the transaction, both Leopoldo and Eleonore Cavalli will reinvest in the Company, remaining fully committed to this new stage, and will continue in their positions of CEO and Creative Director respectively.