Retail 5 Global Retail Acquisitions In H1 2023

Here are five notable global acquisitions made by retail leaders in the first half of 2023 as they navigated a competitive landscape.

Authentic Brands Group

Acquired: Boardriders

In March, Authentic Brands Group made a binding offer to purchase action sports and lifestyle company Boardriders, then signed a definitive agreement to purchase the company in April. The full portfolio— featuring Quiksilver, Billabong, Roxy, RVCA, DC Shoes, VonZipper, Honolua, and Element—will join Authentic’s roster of iconic brands. As a global brand development, marketing, and entertainment platform, New York-based Authentic represents over 40 brands, including Reebok, Ted Baker, and Aéropostale. The acquisition will accelerate the expansion of Boardriders’ shop-in-shops, branded retail stores, and global wholesale and e-commerce. The deal is expected to be finalized in Q3 2023 and is forecast to boost systemwide annual retail sales to over $27.6 billion.

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Acquired: Cath Kidston

London-headquartered home furnishing and lifestyle brand Cath Kidston and its intellectual property of CK Acquisitions Limited was bought by NEXT plc in March for $10.5 million from the administrators. Established in 1993, Cath Kidston is known for its quintessentially British handicraft and vintage-themed items. In 2020, the company went into administration, leading to the closure of most of its U.K. stores, and was then bought by a private investment business, Baring Private Equity Asia. In 2022, the business was again sold to Hilco Capital.

FullBeauty Brands Acquired: ELOQUII

In a bid to improve margins by narrowing focus and developing alternative revenue streams, Walmart Inc offloaded American fashion brand ELOQUII Inc in April. Walmart acquired the digitally native vertical brand ELOQUII in 2018. For FullBeauty Brands, ELOQUII will join as an anchor tenant in a new FullBeauty digital mall featuring brands championing plus-size apparel. Since its inception in 1901, FullBeauty Brands has served size-inclusive fashion for plus-size women and big and tall men seeking fashion inspiration, style advice, and clothing tailored to their individual needs.

ChimHaeres Acquired: Fogal and Vionnet

In April, ChimHaeres Investment Holding acquired French haute couture label Vionnet and a majority stake in Swiss brand Fogal. The investment vehicle is the creation of a joint venture between Chimera Abu Dhabi and Haeras Capital, which will aim to deploy its capital towards the acquisition and build-up of high-growth potential aspirational luxury and lifestyle brands in Europe, focusing initially on Italy, France, Switzerland, and the U.K. It is registered in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) with operating entities in Milan, Italy and Geneva, Switzerland. Vionnet was founded in 1912 by couturier Madeleine Vionnet, while the storied fashion hosiery label Fogal was established in 1921 by

Acquired: Certilogo

Global commerce titan eBay declared its definitive agreement to Certilogo, a provider of AI-powered apparel and fashion goods digital IDs and authentication, in May 2023 and is expected to close in Q3 2023. As a destination to shop for pre-loved apparel and fashion, eBay’s investment will leverage Certilogo’s platform to offer consumers a seamless way to confirm authenticity.

Established in 2006, the Milan-based company also uses digital technology to enable brands and designers to manage the lifecycle of their goods, access reliable data on branded items, and activate circular services. Diesel, Off-White, Versace, and Emporio Armani are some of the brands that Certilogo represents.