Shan Partners With Maillot Baltex
Montreal-based swimwear manufacturer Maillot Baltex Inc. acquired an interest this month in swimwear designer and manufacturer Shan. As part of the agreement, Maillot Baltex acquired the license to the S by Shan brand, though the line will continue to be designed by Chantal Levesque, Shan president. The companies will continue to operate independently.
The Montreal-based Shan “is a fairly small company,” said Shan spokeswoman Marie- Joseacute;e Gagnon. “It’s been difficult for us to open new markets because of our limited budget. [The merger] will give us an increased budget and a bigger presence.” Shan’s offerings, including upscale swimwear for men and women, are distributed in more than 15 countries. Shan hopes to use Maillot Baltex’s American distribution channels to penetrate the U.S. market.
Maillot Baltex, manufacturer of Baltex, Silhouette Solution, Body ID, Body ID Luxe, Be Creative and Maia brands, is eager to use the S by Shan brand to break into the European market, where Shan already enjoys a presence.
“It’s a perfect agreement that will enable our companies to combine our strengths using a complementary and creative approach,” Francois Demers, president and chief executive officer of Maillot Baltex, said in a statement.
—Erin Barajas
