Carlyle Group has taken ownership of The Very Group, ending two decades of control by the Barclay family and marking one of the most prominent private equity takeovers in the UK retail sector this year.

Abu Dhabi’s International Media Investments (IMI), a co-lender with Carlyle, remains a significant stakeholder in the business.

The restructuring provides The Very Group with what it described as a “strengthened capital base and enhanced financial flexibility” to support future growth.

Robbie Feather, Chief Executive Officer of The Very Group, said that the backing from Carlyle and IMI will enable increased “investment in technology and customer experience.”

Headquartered in Liverpool, the company operates popular e-commerce brands Very and Littlewoods, serving around 4.2 million customers and generating more than £2bn ($2.6bn) in annual revenue. Adjusted earnings rose 16% to £307m in the most recent financial year.

The takeover comes as the Barclay family continues to unwind its former business empire following mounting debts tied to its media and retail holdings. The family had earlier lost control of the Telegraph Media Group, seized by Lloyds Banking Group in an effort to recover £1bn in loans.

Carlyle and IMI had previously provided £125m in funding to The Very Group in 2024, with further refinancing led by Arini Capital Management earlier this year to stabilise operations.

The deal underscores Carlyle’s continued interest in established consumer platforms with digital growth potential. The firm said its ownership will allow Very to accelerate innovation and improve customer engagement in a rapidly evolving online retail market.

If you think we missed any important news, please do not hesitate to contact us at news@pe-insights.com.

Can`t stop reading? Read more.