Reliance Brands Signs Definitive Agreement To Acquire Majority Ownership Of Superdry Ip For Indian Territory, Evolving Their Decade-long Partnership With Superdry Plc

Reliance Brands Limited (RBL), through its wholly owned subsidiary in UK (RBUK), has today signed a  definitive agreement to enter a joint venture with UK-based Superdry PLC, marking a significant new  chapter in its partnership with Superdry PLC. The joint venture entity will acquire Superdry’s intellectual  property assets for the India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh territories. RBUK and Superdry will own 76% and  24% 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 (approx. £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.

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 & 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 RBLand Superdry PLC, facilitating  new sourcing channels, as well as introduction of India-centric product categories, cost optimization, and  long-term investments in brand development.

Superdry India digital platforms:
• Instagram – @superdryindia
• Facebook – @superdryindia
• YouTube – @superdryindia
• Website – www.superdry.in