Apparel & Fashion

rue21

Apax's $1.1B acquisition led to three bankruptcies. From 1,200 stores at peak to liquidation.

FOUNDED
1970
ACQUIRED
Apax Partners, 2013, $1.1 billion
IMPACTS
1 documented

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Editorial Record

maintained by DeathbyPE. Every claim links to a public source.

Timeline

1970

rue21 founded

2013

Acquired by Apax Partners for $1.1 billion

2024

rue21 filed three bankruptcies after Apax Partners' $1.1B acquisition

HighClosure / Bankruptcy

Apax Partners' acquisition left rue21 overleveraged. Three bankruptcies: 2017, 2020, and 2024. Went from 1,200 stores at peak to full liquidation.

Before / After

Store count

reported 2024

before 1,200 stores (peak)

after 0 (liquidating)

-100%

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