Odlo buys Henri-Lloyd, brand to remain UK-based

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Jul 25, 2022

Heritage British sailing brand Henri-Lloyd has been acquired by performance sports specialist Odlo, several months after it also acquired merino wool clothing manufacturer Janus.

The Swiss company said the latest buy “solidifies the brand’s commitment to growth and scale through acquisition across their portfolio”.

It talked of Henri-Lloyd’s “iconic brand with a proud history” and said that it aspires “to further expand its product range and geographic footprint”.

Odlo chairman Hugo Maurstad said both businesses “originated from technical innovations in outdoor sport apparel and they will complement each other going forward”.

Henri-Lloyd founder Henri Strzelecki was known for his innovation and created several world-firsts within technical clothing that have become industry standards. These include seam taping garments for waterproofing and the invention of the nylon non-corrosive zip.

Odlo CEO Knut Are Hogbergsaid said: “By leveraging [our] comprehensive infrastructure, we can concentrate investments towards the Henri-Lloyd brand and its customers while progressing on the ambitious sustainability agenda of all brands within Odlo International.”

The purchase price wasn’t disclosed but the company did say that the Henri-Lloyd team will remain in the UK, in Manchester. They “will collaborate closely with” the new owner in the “future development of the brand and a new generation of innovative products”.

Henri-Lloyd chairman Hans Eckerström said the deal “opens up tremendous opportunities for the brand to reach its true potential to the benefit of all shareholders, both current and future. Joining a family of successful companies that share values and goals will accelerate our growth.”