The Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail (ABFRL) board at its meeting held on 01 April, 2024 has authorised the management of the company to evaluate the vertical demerger of Madura Fashion & Lifestyle (MFL) business.

The proposed demerger will enable the creation of two separate listed companies, as independent growth engines with distinct capital structures and parallel value creation opportunities. Moreover, ABFRL will raise growth capital within 12 months to pursue large growth opportunity. The move is designed in line with a more simplified and streamlined architecture to unlock distinct opportunities for value creation.

After necessary approvals, the demerger will be implemented through an NCLT scheme of arrangement, and all shareholders of ABFRL will have identical shareholding in the newly formed entity. The MFL business consists of four fast fashion brands - Louis Phillippe, Van Heusen, Allen Solly and Peter England - along with casual wear brands viz. American Eagle and Forever 21. It has a brand licence for sportswear brand Reebok and the innerwear business under Van Heusen, which will be demerged into a separate entity.

ABFRL will have Pantaloons and Style Up business, focusing on value retail. Besides it will also have an ethnic portfolio covering multiple occasions, price points and consumer segments, including a designer wear portfolio. It will also have a luxury business portfolio, where it has - The Collective, Galleries Lafayette and other selected luxury brands. Besides, it will also have TMRW business, which has a portfolio of digital-first fashion brands. 

Post demerger, the remaining ABFRL business will be focused on high-growth segments in the shift from unbranded to branded, premiumisation, rise of super premium & luxury, and rapid growth in Gen Z-focused digital-first brands.