The Blackstone Fund takes control of the SPANX underwear brand

The American investment company Blackstone announced Wednesday that it would take control of the underwear brand, leggings and SPANX pants, valued $ 1.2 billion by the operation.Blackstone will acquire a majority of the shares of the company founded in 2000 by Sara Blakely, details a press release.The latter will keep an "important" financial participation in her company and will remain executive president of the board of directors, which should only be made up of women.

Spanx, best known for her sheaths supposed to refine the silhouette, is described as a brand made by women, for women.Its founder, without any experience in the business world, had launched the company, with 5.000 dollars in his pocket, by patent his first underwear.She had the idea by looking for herself what to put in light pants.His sculpting underwear quickly met with success and Sara Blakely had so far increased her company without outside investment.

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The arrival of Blackstone must allow Spanx to accelerate its online presence and expansion in the world.The team that managed the transaction within the investment company was itself only made up of women."Sara is an emblematic businesswoman who has made Spanx not only a category in herself and a familiar name, but also a symbol of authenticity, strengthening of the confidence and emancipation of women," commentedin the press release Ann Chung, at the head of this team.

"We are honored that Sara and her team have trusted Blackstone" to accelerate her growth "and we are impatient to see what the company will achieve with all of our resources," she added.