Oxford Industries buys lifestyle brand Southern Tide for 85 million dollars

Oxford Industries has bought US lifestyle apparel company Southern Tide from private equity firm Brazos for a price reported to be 85 million dollars. Southern Tide CEO Christopher H Heyn and COO/CFO Rob Iorio will stay with the company under its new owners.

Atlanta-based Oxford, owner of Tommy Bahama and Lilly Pulitzer, said the brand should contribute around 35 million dollars in sales and 7 million dollars in operating income this financial year. The company has had a working relationship with Southern Tide stretching back to 2009 when they began working together on development, sourcing and production.

“Southern Tide offers a well-differentiated and comprehensive collection of high-quality apparel and has a growing, multi-channel distribution footprint,” Oxford Chairman and CEO Thomas C. Chubb III said, in a statement. “We believe this business is an excellent fit and expect our operating platform to facilitate continued growth. It is also a brand we know well; Oxford’s relationship with Southern Tide goes back to 2009 when we began providing sourcing and production services to them.”

The Greenville, South Carolina-based company is known for its extensive selection of men’s shirts, pants, shorts, outerwear, ties, swimwear, footwear and accessories and recently launched a significant expansion in its women’s line to offer a complete women’s collection.

Additionally, the company’s products include a collegiate line featuring nearly 50 colleges and universities.

The brand is available through the company’s website and at Nordstrom, Von Maur and over 850 speciality retailers.