Qatari investment group eyes Versace

Gianni Versace could soon be part of a Qatari

investment group.

Mayhoola for Investments S.P.C., an investment company backed by a major private investor group from Qatar, has recently met up with representatives from the Italian government and Italian corporate world to discuss the deal, Italy’s daily Il Messaggero reported.

The plan would be to become a financial partner in the fashion firm. According the Italian newspaper, Versace is seeking to go public in about three years time.

It is not the first time that Mayhoola has shown interest in the Italian fashion world – in July, the company bought luxury fashion brand Valentino.

Qatar has used its wealth from oil and natural-gas exports to buy assets all over the world, including London luxury store Harrods and luxury hotels in France.

Earlier this year, Qatar Investment Authority had accumulated just over a 1% stake in French luxury-goods giant LVMH.