Versace at the lookout for minority investors

The Italian luxury label has confirmed recently to be at the lookout

for a new financial partner. Sources close to Versace have pointed out that the company would be ideally looking at selling a 15-20 percent stake in its capital. Institutional investors from South Korea and Qatar have been mentioned as potential suitors.

"The process is very disciplined," summarised Versace's CEO Gian Giacomo Ferraris before its Spring/Summer 2014 fashion show last Friday. Ferraris added that the firm he heads expects to finalise a shortlist for buyers interested in a minority stake in the Italian fashion house by mid-October and decide on a partner by the end of 2013, reported Reuters.

According to Ferraris, Versace started its search for an investor nearly a year ago. The injection of capital would be used to strengthen the company's balance sheet and to sustain the company's expansion into Asian markets.

With regards to the potential suitors, institutional investors from Qatar and South Korea have been highlighted as the most likely ones, as gathered by industry press. Qatar Holding and South Korean retailing group E-Land Group, allegedly interested in the luxury fashion brand, have already made it clear they won't be buying into the company by the present being.

As outlined by ‘The Telegraph’, the Italian state-controlled investment fund Fondo Strategico Italiano (FSI) would be still among those potential investors. It's noteworthy that nearly a year ago, Qatar Holding and the FSI finalised an agreement – ‘IQ Made In Italy’ - to invest in Italian companies in sectors such as luxury fashion.

When asked in an interview with Reuters whether it was true the company was selling a 15-20 percent stake, Ferraris said that "this is correct".