OTB Confirms Interest in Acquiring Jil Sander

Renzo Rosso’s Italian apparel group is doing due diligence on a potential acquisition of German fashion house Jil Sander, a spokesperson for OTB Group said Tuesday, confirming a report by Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.

OTB, which already owns Diesel, Marni and Maison Margiela, had said in a December statement that it was once again on the hunt for new assets. “We want to increase our critical mass and we want to do it in a modern and sustainable way, first of all supporting and strengthening the pipeline, and in general Made in Italy,” the company said.

Jil Sander is currently owned by the Japanese apparel company Onward Holdings Ltd., which acquired the brand at an equity value of €167 million in 2008.

The label is currently designed by Luke and Lucie Meier, the husband-wife duo known for their work at OAMC and Christian Dior, respectively.