Lifestyle Fund II acquires French brand Sessùn

The Quadrivio & Pambianco private equity fund returns to investing in the fashion segment and buys this brand, known for its iconic soulful identity rooted in arts and crafts.

Lifestyle Fund II is back investing in the Fashion sector: today it acquired a majority stake in Sessùn. The private equity fund, promoted and managed by Quadrivio & Pambianco, now holds the largest share of the French brand.

Founded in Marseille in the late 1990s by Emma François-Grasset, the company currently makes and sells affordable luxury women's clothing that stands out for its iconic soulful identity rooted in arts and crafts. The transaction sees Quadrivio & Pambianco buy the full minority stake held by the Experienced Capital fund, while the founder retains her minority stake and her role as CEO and Creative Director.

Sessùn is the third investment for Lifestyle Fund II - Quadrivio Group's new vehicle that invests in companies active in the Lifestyle, Fashion, Design, Beauty, and Food & Wine sectors. The fund's portfolio already includes a minority stake in Autry - an Italian enterprise producing premium trainers - and a majority stake in Filippo De Laurentiis - an Italian firm specialized in high-end knitwear.

Sessùn has a turnover of approximately €70 million and an EBITDA of €10 million, 63% of which is generated through the retail channel, 23% online and 14% from the wholesale channel. Today, the company has around 80 points of sale across 6 countries (France, Spain, United Kingdom, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland), including direct stores and corners in major European department stores. About 40% of the total turnover is generated on foreign markets.

This acquisition by Lifestyle Fund II aims to consolidate the brand and double its turnover through an international expansion plan, primarily in Europe and the United States. Among the initiatives in the pipeline is a robust plan to add new stores, aiming for a total of 130 points of sale and a global presence. In August, Sessùn obtained the B Corp certification and a new flagship store will be opened in Paris in September. The brand's development strategies also include enhancing the e-commerce channel and strengthening the accessories segment.

The Sessùn acquisition was orchestrated by the Lifestyle Fund II investment team, under the guidance of Philippe Franchet, Partner at Lifestyle Fund II, and Massimo Rocchietti, Senior Investment Manager.

Alessandro Binello, Group CEO of Quadrivio Group and Managing Partner at Lifestyle Fund II, commented: “We're very excited about this new investment. Sessùn is the first foreign acquisition for our new fund. An iconic brand with a strong international reach will see in a new phase for the Group and our investment strategy. We're adding a strong, high-potential enterprise to our portfolio, and one active in the affordable luxury segment - now an essential market. Our goal is to double its turnover within a few years and make the brand international and competitive on a global scale."

Philippe Franchet, Managing Partner at Lifestyle Fund II, added: We're delighted to be working with Sessùn - an iconic premium fashion brand that combines elegance and artisanship. We're excited to embark upon this promising collaboration."

Emmanuel Pradère, President and co-founder of Experienced Capital, and Virginie Birade, Partner, stated: “We're proud of the journey alongside Emma François-Grasset and the Sessùn teams over the past seven years, which have allowed this beautiful brand to grow significantly in a solid and sustainable manner. We're confident that Quadrivio, making its first acquisition in France with this operation, will lead Sessùn to new successes. We wish them all the success they deserve in this promising new phase."

For Emma François-Grasset, founder, CEO and Creative Director of Sessùn: "Thanks to the support from the Experienced Capital team, we've reached a milestone that has enabled us to consolidate our foundations, grow our influence, and establish our vision of timeless and radiant fashion. We thank the team for their valuable support and look forward to beginning a new chapter in our story with Quadrivio, which fully shares our vision and values, supporting us in achieving our ambitious international development."

For legal matters, Quadrivio & Pambianco was assisted by the law firm Jeantet. The financial due diligence was conducted by EY.
The sellers were assisted by Rothschild & Co as financial advisor and by Goodwin Procter for legal matters.