The Carlyle Group Buys Majority Stake In END.
The Carlyle Group has agreed to buy a majority stake in London-based fashion retailer, END. According to Bloomberg, Carlyle’s purchase values END. at over £750 million (approx $1 billion). The private equity firm has a history of investments in Supreme, Moncler, Vogue International, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Dr Pepper. Its latest deal will see co-founders Christiaan Ashworth and John Parker retain a significant minority stake while remaining as co-CEOs of the company. Meanwhile, Index Ventures (currently holding a minority stake) will fully exit before the deal is closed on April 1. The latest figures illustrate END.’s meteoric rise since being founded in 2005 as a two-story shop in High Bridge in Newcastle. The apparel and sneaker retailer, widely regarded for its directional menswear offerings, currently employs over 650 members of staff, ships to 100 countries, and generates revenues of £170m ($235m) – more than half of which is related to sales outside of its native UK. Read more at Highsnobiety.
