RBL acquires majority stake in Superdry IP for Indian territory

Reliance Brands Limited (RBL), via its wholly owned UK subsidiary (RBUK), announced a joint venture with UK-based Superdry PLC today. The partnership represents an evolution of their decade-long association, with the new entity set to acquire Superdry's intellectual property (IP) assets for India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.

RBUK and Superdry will own 76 per cent and 24 per cent of the joint venture entity, respectively. The consideration for the IP is £40.0 million, which is estimated to result in Superdry PLC receiving gross cash proceeds of £30.4 million (approximately £28.3 million net of fees and taxes) from RBUK.

RBL had inked a long-term franchise agreement with Superdry PLC in 2012 and introduced the brand in India. This strategic evolution of brand ownership aims to capitalise on the increasing affluence and evolving consumption patterns of Indian shoppers. Coupled with Reliance Brand’s appetite to invest in accelerating Indian consumption narrative, the deal paves way for Superdry’s future expansion in the country and neighbouring territories, the companies said in a joint media release.

Superdry's unique fusion of British heritage, American styling, and Japanese graphics has carved a niche among fashionable young Indian consumers. The brand has expanded rapidly to 200 points of sale across 50 cities. E-commerce continues to drive incremental growth for the brand, boosting its reach beyond 2,300 Indian cities, underlining RBL-run Superdry India operations as the largest franchisee network of the brand globally.

Superdry’s offerings include versatile outerwear, T-shirts, and shirts for men and women, which have become increasingly popular, alongside categories like shoes and accessories. The brand has consistently adapted to Indian shopping needs and introduced swimwear, fragrances, as well as an exclusive Denim & Shirt range earlier this year. In 2019, Superdry expanded into sports and activewear under ‘Superdry Sport’, adding performance-driven products to its portfolio. Bollywood actor Kartik Aryan has also been part of the brand since 2022 as a brand ambassador, featuring prominently in brand campaigns and new launches.

Darshan Mehta, MD of Reliance Brands Limited, remarked, “Superdry has come to define urban cool in India for more than a decade. The journey has been rewarding and fun in equal parts due to working with the hugely talented Superdry team and the sense of camaraderie led by Julian. I look forward with excitement to this new era of our partnership.”

Superdry UK will maintain a stake in the brand for the Indian territory and will continue to support brand development through sharing expertise in design, product development, and marketing.

Julian Dunkerton, Superdry’s CEO and founder expressed: “We are pleased to be announcing this IP agreement with our long-term partners, Reliance. India represents an incredible opportunity for Superdry, and our excellent existing relationship with Reliance means we will be able to hit the ground running. Under our new partnership, I am confident that the brand will continue to accelerate and build on our success to date to become a major force in the Indian fashion market.”

This announcement represents a natural progression in the brand's ongoing success and popularity in India. The new partnership will enable deeper collaboration between RBL and Superdry PLC, facilitating new sourcing channels, as well as introduction of India-centric product categories, cost optimisation, and long-term investments in brand development.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KD)