Mukesh Ambani buys 40% stake in Manish Malhotra’s fashion brand in widening luxury retail push

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Mumbai: Indian tycoon Mukesh Ambani bought a stake in a high-end fashion brand, run by a stylist to some of Bollywood’s biggest stars, as Asia’s richest person continues to expand into luxury retail.

Reliance Brands Ltd. bought 40% of MM Styles Ltd., which owns Manish Malhotra’s eponymous fashion house, the company said in a statement late on Friday. The privately-held brand was launched in 2005 by the designer, who made his name over three decades by styling Bollywood stars in some of India’s biggest blockbuster movies.

Besides expanding the physical presence of Malhotra’s brand beyond its four flagship retail stores in India, Reliance will seek to create a “strong technology backbone” for the brand and build it into a “global couture powerhouse,” according to the statement. Reliance didn’t disclose the financial details of the transaction.

The investment in Malhotra speaks of Ambani’s wider aim of transforming Reliance Industries Ltd., lessening its dependence on the oil-refining and petrochemicals businesses that he inherited from his late father.

Retail behemoth

The tycoon is quickly turning his conglomerate into a technology-driven consumer and retail behemoth as part of an increasing trend toward the consolidation of corporate power in India among a small and select group of conglomerates.

As well as acquiring marquee global brands and assets abroad in recent years, Reliance has forged partnerships with numerous luxury international brands, including Burberry Group Plc, Hugo Boss AG and Tiffany & Co.

“Recognition and appreciation for Indian couture is at an inflection point globally,” said Isha Ambani, Mukesh’s daughter and director of Reliance Retail Ltd. “Manish, the man behind the brand, has always been nimble and ahead of his times.”- Bloomberg

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