BasicNet acquires American brand Sundek

BasicNet has made its second acquisition in the space of a month. After acquiring Woolrich, the Piedmont-based group, which also owns Sebago and K-Way, has brought another iconic American brand, Sundek, into its fold. In addition to the beachwear brand, the deal also involves 100% of Kickoff, the current holder and operator of Sundek, which is controlled by Winnie S.r.l.

The enterprise value of the Kickoff group — which also includes Kickoff USA Inc., Kickoff SL and Kickoff France SAS — has been set at €33.5 million. After deducting the financial position — including bank debt, tax liabilities and amounts owed to the shareholder — the initial consideration for the transaction comes to approximately €10 million.

Completion of the transaction, which is not subject to conditions precedent, is expected by the end of December; this amount may nevertheless be subject to standard adjustments based on the final calculation of the net financial position.

“The group’s expansion trajectory continues, and acquisitions are a strategic focus; we will now concentrate on integrating these two companies and relaunching these two extraordinary brands. We welcome another historic American brand, with seventy years of history, deeply rooted in the culture and customs (in every sense of the term) of the Italian market and beyond. It’s a brand that we’ve always appreciated, that we have personally used and that, like others in our group, is recognisable from afar,” say BasicNet co-CEOs Lorenzo Boglione and Alessandro Boglione.

The initial consideration will be paid in full through the transfer of treasury shares already in the portfolio, valued at the average market price over the last six months (i.e., around 1386 million shares, valued at €7.22 each).

The treasury shares delivered by BasicNet to the counterparty, as part of the initial consideration, will be subject to a 36-month lock-up period from the date of completion of the acquisition, with partial releases from the second year onwards.

In addition to the initial consideration, one or two earn-outs — each amounting to €5 million, up to a total of €10 million — may also be payable by BasicNet if revenue thresholds for the Sundek brand are exceeded in any of the financial years after 2025 and up to the year ending 31 December 2030.

BasicNet has not taken on any new debt to finance the acquisition, but confirms that it plans to refinance the Kickoff group’s existing medium- and long-term facilities.

The Kickoff group, which closed the 2024 financial year with sales of €27.6 million and EBITDA of €6.8 million, has 27 single-brand stores in Italy, including eight outlets, as well as seven single-brand stores in Spain, France and the United States.