Regent L.P. to acquire French brand Petit Bateau

On October 23, the French Competition Authority gave its unconditional approval to the takeover of Petit Bateau by American investor Michael A. Reinstein, founder of the Regent L.P. fund, formalising a strategic transaction first announced at the end of September.

On September 30, 2025, Michael A. Reinstein notified the French Competition Authority of his plan to acquire sole control of the iconic French brand, previously owned by Rocher Participations, the holding company of the Rocher Group. Following its review, the regulator found that the transaction was not likely to harm competition, citing limited market shares in the affected markets and a low degree of competitive overlap between Regent’s portfolio brands and those of Petit Bateau.

Founded in 1893 and renowned for its timeless childrenswear, Petit Bateau now joins Regent L.P.’s diversified portfolio, which already includes DIM, Playtex and Wonderbra, as well as several international brands across the fashion, consumer goods and media sectors.

The acquisition aligns with Regent’s strategy of revitalising heritage brands with strong European roots, leveraging their reputation and international potential. It also comes against the backdrop of the Rocher Group’s strategic refocusing, with the company streamlining its activities for several months.

Petit Bateau, which operates a production site in Troyes, will continue to run its network of directly operated boutiques, department-store shop-in-shops, factory outlets and e-commerce site, with no immediate change to its distribution model.

In the Authority’s view, the complementary positioning of Petit Bateau and Regent’s lingerie brands limits any risk of concentration in the markets concerned.

With Regent’s backing, renowned for its ability to turn around and reposition established brands, Petit Bateau could accelerate its digital modernisation and international expansion, two initiatives already under way in recent years.

In 2024, the French company employed 2,300 people and reported revenue of €250 million, with growth in France and international markets.