ESCADA AG sold the BiBA GmbH label, which belongs to its a subsidiary PRIMERA GmbH & Co. KG. GELCO GmbH & Co. KG is a Gelsenkirchen-based women's fashion company. With effect as of April 30, 2009 a holding company takes over the BiBA retail chain and its 530plus own retail stores and franchise areas. It was agreed to keep the conditions of the transaction confidential. The sale is subject to approval by anti-trust authorities.
The disposal of BiBA sees ESCADA complete the structured sales process for the PRIMERA Group. On May 26, 2009, the manufacturer of high-quality women's fashion had already announced the sale of the other subsidiaries of the PRIMERA Group. The labels Laurèl, apriori and cavita had been sold to the mutares AG, Munich (see Press Release...).
The ESCADA Group is an international fashion group for women's apparel and accessories, which is active on the international luxury goods market. It has pursued a course of steady expansion since its founding in 1976 by Margaretha and Wolfgang Ley and today has 182 own shops and 225 franchise shops/corners in more than 60 countries.