Abu Dhabi-based Multiply Group has announced that it has secured a 67.91% controlling stake in Castellano Investments SÀRL (the owner of Tendam Brands SAU and other subsidiaries), thus becoming the majority shareholder in the company alongside Llano Holdings SÀRL and Arcadian Investments SÀRL.

 

Tendam is Spain’s second-largest apparel group by market share and one of Europe’s leading omnichannel apparel groups. 

 

An investment holding company, Multiply Group operates businesses globally through four sectors - Mobility, Media and Communications, Energy and Utilities, and Beauty and Wellness.

 

The Abu Dhabi Group clinched the strategic stake through a capital increase. Following this move, Llano Holdings and Arcadian Investments - the corporate investment vehicles for CVC Funds and PAI Partners respectively - will remain minority shareholders in the company.

 

It will lead the next phase of growth for Tendam, geared towards further international expansion and development of the group’s omnichannel ecosystem. The transaction is subject to approval by the pertinent regulatory authorities.

 

With this investment, Multiply Group has established its presence in the retail and apparel sector, with Tendam serving as the anchor for the new vertical. 

 

The deal marks Multiply Group’s first major investment into Europe, representing significant geographical growth and further deepening its presence in consumer-focused businesses.

 

On the strategic move, Group CEO and Managing Director Samia Bouazza said: "The majority stake in Tendam achieves three strategic goals for Multiply Group: It enables us to push forward with our commitment to create double-digit ebitda growth."

 

"It marks our first entry into the retail and apparel sector we have been targeting and believe has significant growth potential. And finally, the acquisition is a tangible step in our global expansion efforts, which strategically positions the Group to continue building on its international portfolio in years to come," he stated.

 

Tendam has become a pioneer in the omnichannel apparel retail sector, present at over 1,800 points of sale in nearly 80 countries on four continents. 

 

It features 12 own brands that are primarily positioned in the premium mass market segment as well as almost 200 third-party brands, well-established loyalty clubs, market-leading technological capabilities, an extensive network of more than 1,800 points of sale (including directly-operated stores, corners and franchises) and online.

 

From a strategic perspective, the acquisition presents a significant opportunity for Multiply Group to build on Tendam’s platform of brands and strong performance to propel future growth by having access to the €1.3 trillion global apparel retail market.

 

The move follows a series of recent acquisitions and vertical-building activities by Multiply Group where it has successfully acquired controlling stakes in Excellence Premier Investment, Media 247, BackLite Media, and The Grooming Company Holding and has overachieved its year of efficiency targets for 2024.

 

Jaume Miquel, Chairman and CEO of Tendam, said: "Since implementing the Tendam 5.0 strategy, Tendam has demonstrated exceptional growth, underpinned by the creation of a unique, unrivalled omnichannel ecosystem. The investment by Multiply Group is an endorsement of that strategy and affords increased capacity for accelerated growth."

 

"Likewise, CVC Funds and PAI, through Llano and Arcadian, offer continuity and a strong, in-depth understanding of the company. All of our investors, in partnership with a committed management team, are the best possible guarantee of continuing growth and success," stated Miquel.

 

Caroline Goergen, Director at Llano Holdings said: "We are very excited to partner with Multiply Group and continue supporting Tendam in this new phase of growth. We are very grateful to Tendam’s management team, who have created a unique ecosystem of brands and significantly outperformed the market. We remain enthusiastic about Tendam’s growth prospects and our continued investment."

 

Laura Muries, Partner & Head of Spain for PAI’s Flagship Fund, said: "Since our investment in 2017, the partnership with Tendam has been a successful transformation journey, driven by an exceptional team."

 

"Today, Tendam is a leading and highly profitable omnichannel company, with unique access to 24 million customers and consistent above-market growth. We are very happy to continue supporting the company in further developing this new strategy internationally," he added.-TradeArabia News Service