Fanatics, the digital sports platform and e-commerce company, has acquired Fexpro, a wholesaler of licensed sports and branded apparel, to expand its footing in Latin America.
Headquartered in Panama with a presence across Latin America, Fexpro is a preferred licensee for several major US sports leagues in the region, including American football’s NFL, basketball’s NBA, and baseball’s MLB.
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The company also works with top European soccer clubs including Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona and France’s Paris Saint-Germain, as well as UK sportswear brand Umbro.
Fanatics’ addition of Fexpro “significantly strengthens the organization’s capabilities and footprint across Latin America,” while its partners will “benefit from local expertise and infrastructure, strong capabilities in product design, and a comprehensive retail distribution network across the region.”
Fexpro will join the Fanatics Brands division within Fanatics Commerce, and all the company’s 100-plus employees will continue to report to chief executive Alberto Bassan.
With the acquisition, Bassan will now report to Joe Monahan, global president of Fanatics Brands. Fexpro will “seamlessly integrate into Fanatics Brands, with a continued emphasis on growing the wholesale business in the region.”
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By GlobalDataAdditional growth opportunities will include rights expansion, in-market sales, and increased manufacturing and distribution capabilities.
Of the deal, Monahan said: “We are thrilled to welcome Fexpro to the growing Fanatics family. Alberto and the team have built a strong wholesale business that complements many of Fanatics Brands’ capabilities that have been scaled globally over the past decade.
“Fexpro has a proven track record of strong distribution capabilities across multiple channels and retailers in the region, reaching more than 2,400 retail doors throughout Latin America. The company provides Fanatics with a solid framework for additional wholesale growth as we continually look to expand our international footprint, for the benefit of our global partners and sports fans around the world.”
Bassan added: “This deal marks a fantastic opportunity for us to further grow our business and better serve our partners, with the support of a global company that has continually innovated for sports fans over the past decade.
“Fanatics has transformed the way quality fan gear and apparel is designed, manufactured, and delivered through its innovative vertical commerce model. With access to Fanatics’ capabilities, global infrastructure, and unparalleled relationships across the world of sport, we will be able to provide value for our partners like never before.”
With this acquisition, Fanatics continues its international growth efforts and follows on from the acquisition earlier this year of Italian omnichannel sports retailer EPI, which operates the retail and third-party logistics for many of Italy’s leading soccer clubs, such as Inter Milan, Juventus, AC Milan, and the Italian national team.
