American holding company Marquee Brands has acquired UK fashion and furnishings brand Laura Ashley,from global asset firm Gordon Brothers.
According to Marquee Brands, it will retain Laura Ashley’s UK-based team and open its first European headquarters in London.
Marquee Brands plans to integrate Laura Ahsley into its portfolio with a fully licensed operating model spanning the US, UK, Japan, South Korea, and other leading markets in Asia.
The holding company has said it will also grow the business’s presence across the North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, and EMEA regions.
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The acquisition increases the retail value of Marquee Brand’s portfolio to $4+ billion (£3.2 billion).
Marquee Brands CEO Heath Golden said: “Laura Ashley’s licensed business model and robust group of high-quality partners makes the brand a seamless addition to Marquee Brands. We are excited to harness the strong affinity for this iconic brand and drive expansion across new platforms and partnerships,”
“With the existing UK team in place, we are primed and ready to leverage Laura Ashley’s seven-decade legacy to unlock its future potential as a full lifestyle brand innovating new products and categories, offering unique collaborations and engaging multi-generational audiences in key markets worldwide.”
“As a firm that actively invests in and revitalizes iconic brands like Laura Ashley, we acquired the British heritage brand out of insolvency in 2020 and built a flexible, scalable licensing business and a global e-commerce presence over the last four years,” added Tobias Nanda, head of brands at Gordon Brothers.
“We could not be prouder of Laura Ashley’s growth under Carolyn D’Angelo’s leadership, the former President of Laura Ashley, and know the brand is in the right hands for continued global growth under Marquee Brands’ leadership.”
