Prada Group and Ermenegildo Zegna Group announce the acquisition of the majorityshareholding in Filati Biagioli Modesto S.p.A., a company based in Montale (Pistoia), which for over acentury has excelled in the production of cashmere and other noble yarns and offered excellence in theprocess of transforming fibres, assuring perfect quality throughout the entire production process.

Under the terms of the agreement, the Prada Group and the Ermenegildo Zegna Group will be assigned a40% shareholding each; the Biagioli Family will hold 15% of the company and the remaining 5% will beowned by Renato Cotto, a manager from Biella with a long career in the sector, who will be appointed Chief Executive Officer. Gildo Zegna – CEO of the Zegna Group – will be appointed Chairman, while Franca Biagioli and Patrizio Bertelli – CEO of the Prada Group – will join the Board of Directors.

Patrizio Bertelli declares: “This acquisition is in line with the philosophy that the Prada Group has always pursued: direct control of the entire supply chain to ensure uncompromising quality at every stage of the production process. It represents a further strategic investment that allows us to preserve the know-how and century-old tradition of an Italian excellence in the production of fine yarns; it also proves the cooperative attitude between two Italian groups, part of the much hoped-for goal of a teamwork approach in the Italian fashion industry and Italian manufacturing”.

Gildo Zegna declares: “The acquisition of historic Italian companies, each specialised in its own product sector, has enabled Zegna over the years to establish a true luxury textile laboratory with the aim of producing the highest quality fabrics and at the same time safeguarding the uniqueness of the Italian supply chain. I am particularly proud of this new acquisition today because, in adding another prestigious company in the field of fine yarns to our textile division, I am joined in this journey by a great entrepreneur of the Italian fashion industry”.

Assuring continuity, preserving know-how, creating value for the ‘Made in Italy’ in the name of craftsmanship and innovation is the vision that Patrizio Bertelli and Gildo Zegna share in this partnership.