END Clothing acquired by investors in move said to have reduced debts and positioned it for success

High end clothing retailer END has been acquired by another firm of US investors in its second sale in only three years - a move which is said to have reduced debt.

The North East-based business, which started in 2005, has built up turnover of more than £221m thanks to global online sales of luxury 'streetwear'. Now, New York-based private equity firm Apollo Global Management has taken a controlling stake in the firm, having been involved in the Carlyle Group's multimillion-pound purchase of the retailer in 2021.

It marks the exit of the business' founders, Christiaan Ashworth and John Parker, who had retained a significant minority stake in the business following the Carlyle Group deal. Now, one of the companies within END's international ownership structure is set to be liquidated.

END told BusinessLive the undisclosed deal with Apollo