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Pepkor Group, the South African investment company linked to South African billionaire Christo Wiese, has finalized the acquisition of multiple fashion brands from Durban-based Retailability in a R1.7 billion ($98.2 million) cash transaction. The move strengthens Pepkor’s push into the adult clothing segment across Southern Africa.
Acquisition expands Pepkor’s Southern Africa reach
The deal brings Legit, Style, Boardmans, Swagga, and Beaver Canoe into Pepkor’s portfolio, adding a network of roughly 462 stores across South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, and Eswatini. Pepkor first announced the transaction in March, signaling its intention to expand adultwear market share through both acquisitions and internal growth.
Cape Town-based Pepkor has recently boosted its adultwear offerings by acquiring Choice Clothing and launching the Ayana womenswear brand. Already a leading retailer in children’s clothing and school uniforms through its PEP and Ackermans brands, the company also sells electronics and furniture, giving it a broad consumer base.
Pepkor expands Pepkor speciality network
The newly acquired brands will be folded into Pepkor Speciality, which already includes Tekkie Town, Shoe City, Dunns, Refinery, CODE, SPCC, and Ayana. Retailability will retain Edgars, Edgars Beauty, Red Square, Kelso, and Keedo. The integration adds 469 stores to Pepkor Speciality’s existing 979, strengthening the group’s presence and operational scale.
Pepkor, listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, operates across four segments: Pepkor Speciality for clothing, footwear, and homeware, and Pepkor Lifestyle for furniture and appliances. The company’s roots trace back to 2014, when Wiese sold Pepkor to Steinhoff International in exchange for a 20 percent stake in the conglomerate.
Pepkor strengthens African apparel reach
Recent expansions have increased Pepkor’s total store count to 5,823. The acquisition will push Pepkor Speciality beyond 1,400 stores, improving supply chain efficiency, procurement power, and financial services reach. Retailability had previously acquired Legit following Edcon’s collapse and later purchased Edgars through Edcon’s business rescue process.
With this purchase, Pepkor strengthens its position as one of Africa's biggest retailers of clothing and lifestyle goods. By combining the brands with existing divisions, it hopes to make operations more efficient, expand its presence, and have more power in Southern Africa's retail sector.
