Reliance Brands, Mothercare deepen ties with new joint venture for South Asia

Reliance Brands Ltd has deepened its partnership with Mothercare Plc by forming a joint venture that will own the Mothercare brand and its intellectual property assets across India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and Bangladesh. This move follows Reliance’s acquisition of the brand’s rights in the Indian market in 2018.

The new partnership will see Reliance Brands Holding UK Ltd (RBL UK), a unit of Reliance Brands Ltd, take a 51 percent stake in the joint venture while Mothercare Global Brand Ltd retains the remaining 49 percent. RBL UK will acquire its share for £16 million in cash. Acting as the franchisor of the Mothercare brand in the region, the JV will unlock new growth opportunities, capitalizing on both companies’ strengths in retail and brand management, a joint statement by the two companies said on October 17.

Reliance Brands currently operates 87 stores across 25 cities in India, in addition to a strong presence on e-commerce platforms.

“Mothercare has been a trusted name for parents in India for years, and this joint venture marks an exciting new chapter in our partnership. It’s been incredibly rewarding to work alongside the talented Mothercare team, and this deeper collaboration reflects the strong relationship we’ve built over time. I’m excited about the opportunities this new era brings as we continue to expand the brand’s presence across South Asia,” said Darshan Mehta, Managing Director, Reliance Brands.

Clive Whiley, Chairman of Mothercare, said, “Today’s agreement strengthens our operations in South Asia through an even closer working relationship with Reliance, our existing valued franchise partner, and underlines the intrinsic value of the Mothercare brand strength.”

“We have renewed confidence in the opportunity that this reinvigorated joint-venture now presents. We look forward to working even more closely with Reliance Brands as our joint venture partner and not just as a franchisee in the region, moving forward together,” Whiley added.

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