Brands In completes £1.9M management buy-out to scale licensed apparel
What's the deal? Brands In Limited, a London-based licensed apparel specialist, has completed a £1.9M management buy-out backed by Praetura Commercial Finance. The deal enabled managing director Rick Lowe to increase his shareholding to 95%, acquiring shares from majority shareholder and co-founder Lee Craze.
Founded in 2012, Brands In designs and supplies clothing and accessories for major retailers including Boohoo, Next, and Matalan, and produces licensed products for studios like Disney, Warner Brothers, and Hasbro. Its portfolio spans franchises such as Harry Potter, Star Wars, and Friends, as well as bands like AC/DC and Pink Floyd.
Praetura structured the funding as an invoice discount line combined with a Growth Guarantee Scheme loan. The deal was introduced by Kingswood Corporate Finance and supported by EMW Law LLP.
Why now? The buy-out gives Brands In a clearer ownership structure as it pushes into new European markets — specifically Germany, France, and Scandinavia. The company also plans to expand its product range into nightwear, accessories, and sweat shirting.
"This funding provides a strong platform to build on that momentum," Lowe said. "It ensures continuity for our customers and partners, while allowing us to strengthen our offering and support the next phase of our growth."
What could go wrong? Licensed apparel is a competitive, margin-sensitive business that depends on maintaining relationships with both licensors and retailers. Expanding into new European markets adds currency risk and logistical complexity. Any loss of a major licensing agreement or retail partner could materially affect revenue.
The signal: Management buy-outs backed by asset-based lending continue to offer a viable path for founders looking to consolidate ownership without turning to equity investors. The deal reflects a broader trend of UK SMEs using structured debt facilities — rather than dilutive funding — to finance ownership transitions and growth simultaneously.
Read more: praeturacf.com
