Tata Group in talks with Fabindia promoters for stake acquisition, says report

livemint.com:

Fabindia for a potential stake acquisition or outright purchase of the ethnic apparel business, the Hindu BusinessLine reported citing sources. The ongoing talks suggest that the acquisition may value Fabindia at an amount lower than the $2.5 billion initially estimated during the clothing company's failed initial public offering (IPO), the report added. Should the deal materialize, it could mark a significant move within the sector, potentially becoming one of the largest transactions following Aditya Birla Fashion Retail's acquisition of a controlling interest in TCNS Clothing last year.

For the Tata Group, this move represents a strategic addition to the portfolio, particularly in the ethnic wear sector. Their retail arm, Trent, boasts brands such as Westside, Zudio, and Utsa. Both the Tata Group and Trent declined to comment on the matter, the report said.

A spokesperson for Fabindia denied the existence of any ongoing discussions, it added. Livemint could not independently verify the report. Fabindia seeks capital not only to reduce debt but also to expand its capacity and rejuvenate its clothing line, as per the report.

The company's failed IPO aimed to offer an exit opportunity to investors such as Premji Invest and Bajaj Holdings. Earlier this year, Fabindia sold its subsidiary Organic India to Tata Consumer Products (TCP) for an enterprise value of ₹1,900 crore. This move followed the cancellation of its ₹4,000-crore IPO due to uncertain market conditions in the previous year.