Mergers and acquisitions news and archive

Bestseller owner snaps up majority stake in Drake’s

Anders Holch Povlsen, the owner of Danish fashion giant Bestseller Group and the largest shareholder of e-commerce retailer Asos, has snapped up a majority stake in British menswear brand Drake’s. New Companies House filings have revealed that a 75 percent stake in Drake’s has been transferred to 28.10.2025 Limited, a firm overseen by Povlsen....

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Asos adds Noughts & Kisses to brand portfolio

E-commerce giant Asos has reportedly acquired Noughts & Kisses and is preparing to launch the fashion brand on its site later in 2026. The news was confirmed to Drapers by Noughts & Kisses founder Jemma Bramley, who said the retailer’s customer “aligns closely” with Asos’ own. “Asos is the perfect next step for us because it expands our reach...

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Bain Capital secures majority stake in South Korea’s Echo Marketing

US private equity firm Bain Capital has snapped up a majority stake in Echo Marketing, the South Korean parent company of activewear brand Andar. The stake, valued at 344 million dollars, reflects Bain’s efforts to expand its presence in consumer brands, particularly in South Korea’s athleisure sector. A regulatory filing seen by Reuters stated...

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Hanky Panky finds new home with Crown Brands Group

Intimates brand Hanky Panky has been snapped up in a joint acquisition by Crown Brands Group and Rafar Group, with each to collaborate on marketing strategy and execution. Under the agreement, Crown will oversee brand strategy and global licensing while Rafar, the parent company of Gelmart International, will serve as the core operating partner,...

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Made in Italy brands lead Christmas M&A activity

Milan - The year concludes with two significant financial transactions involving two prominent Made in Italy brands: Etro and Golden Goose. Golden Goose has been acquired by the Chinese company Hsg, an international venture capital and private equity firm, which now holds a majority stake in the group. Meanwhile, Temasek, a global investment...

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Navigating change: A look at the UK fashion industry's defining year in 2025

Between a Boohoo to Debenhams rebrand; the creation of new specialised fashion groups; and turnarounds that have seen some high street darlings get back on track, 2025 has been a definitive year for the UK fashion industry. Major shifts are underway, and so for many this year is just the start. Here are some of the most notable chop and changes,...

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Footwear brand Gabor has a new owner: Arklyz

Swiss investor Arklyz has acquired the German footwear brand Gabor. The company, based in Stans on Lake Lucerne, did not disclose the purchase price. According to the announcement, all regulatory approvals have been received. Gabor, previously owned by its founding family, is primarily known for its womenswear shoes. The company is now 100...

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Founders of members-only platform Mile acquire Matches, prepare for 2026 relaunch

After a tenuous period that brought uncertainty to the future of Matches, it appears the ailing British e-tailer may have found a more promising home. Hulcan, a new luxury group created by the co-founders of members-only platform Mile, has stepped up to acquire the company as it prepares for a 2026 relaunch. The deal – financial details of which...

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How the FullBeauty and DXL merger reshapes the Big & Tall market

Last week, two major players in the US’ size-inclusive apparel category joined hands. FBB Holdings I, Inc. (FullBeauty) and Destination XL (DXL) announced a major merger in a move that intends to accelerate respective growth plans and scale the presence of a “category-defining retailer for inclusive apparel”. Framed as a “merger of equals”, the...

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IKKS Group acquired, many jobs to be cut

French ready-to-wear group IKKS, having been placed in receivership, has found a buyer. The acquisition will see its workforce halved with the loss of approximately 500 jobs, according to the takeover bid approved by the Paris Commercial Court on Friday. 546 direct jobs retained out of 1,094 The offer proposes the retention of 546 direct jobs...

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Destination XL merges with FullBeauty as quarterly losses widen

Destination XL Group (DXL) has announced its intention to merge with FBB Holdings I, Inc. (FullBeauty) to create a “scaled, category-defining retailer for inclusive apparel”. The news comes as the US commerce retailer of Big + Tall men’s clothing reported widening losses in the third quarter, with consumers said to be shopping less frequently....

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Cocoon elevates rental offering with MyWardrobe HQ and More Luxury Club

London-based rental platform Cocoon is elevating its offering, merging that of MyWardrobe HQ and More Luxury Club into its operations. By combining the businesses, Cocoon is building on efforts to position itself as a “definitive category leader” in circular luxury. As part of the process, MyWardrobe HQ’s chief executive officer, Coco Baraer...