The team at a Blackburn law firm has advised the owners of sailing clothing company Henri-Lloyd, on its sale to a Swiss specialist sport and outdoor brand.

Odlo, which is owned by Switzerland-based Monta Rosa Capital, has acquired the iconic UK sailing and lifestyle brand Henri-Lloyd Group for a substantial undisclosed sum, which is expected to be completed shortly.

The team at Blackburn’s Taylors Solicitors, led by corporate partners Andrew Livesey and Matthew Catterall, and the firm’s head of commercial property, partner John Lomax, were on hand to advise Henri-Lloyd on the sale.

Mr Livesey said: “Henri-Lloyd is an iconic British brand, and we are delighted to have been able to work with the business over the past few years, culminating in the current deal with ODLO.

“It is a pleasure and a privilege to be associated with such a dynamic business and team of individuals, and a brand that is instantly recognised worldwide.

“This was a particularly pressurised deal, with a substantial amount of detail to be dealt with in a short timescale.

“There were plenty of early starts and late finishes, with all of the professional team fully focused on the task in hand.”

Henri-Lloyd was established in Manchester in 1963 and has 85 staff in its UK retail business.

Taylors advised the firm when it last changed hands in 2018, when the brand and valuable assets were acquired out of administration by a group of investors led by Hans Eckerström with the aim of re-establishing the company as the premier brand for yachtsmen and sailors around the world.

Chair of Henri-Lloyd, Hans Eckerström, said: “The acquisition of Henri-Lloyd by Odlo opens up tremendous opportunities for the brand to reach its true potential to the benefit of all shareholders, both current and future.

“Joining a family of successful companies that share values and goals will accelerate our growth.

“Most importantly that journey will be based on quality, innovation and striving for sustainability – principles the Henri-Lloyd team hold dearly.”

Henri-Lloyd was founded by Henri Strzelecki, who set out to create the world’s best and most durable waterproof clothing.

He created several world-firsts within technical clothing that have today become industry standards, including seam taping garments for waterproofing and the invention of the nylon non-corrosive zip.

Henri-Lloyd will continue to be located in Manchester and will collaborate with the Odlo group in the development of the brand and a new generation of innovative products.

Odlo chair, Hugo Maurstad, said: “We are excited about including Henri-Lloyd into our family of brands. It is an iconic brand with a proud history.

"Together we aspire to further expand its product range and geographic footprint.

“Henri-Lloyd and Odlo are both companies that originated from technical innovations in outdoor sport apparel and they will complement each other going forward.”

Odlo chief executive, Knut Are Høgberg, added: “By leveraging Odlo's comprehensive infrastructure, we can concentrate investments towards the Henri-Lloyd brand and its customers while progressing on the ambitious sustainability agenda of all brands within Odlo International.

“We warmly welcome the Henri-Lloyd team to the Odlo family and look forward to working together going forward.”