46:25

In this spontaneous LinkedIn Live panel, moderator Dörte hosts Stefan Wenzel, Rupert, and Coralie to dissect Zalando’s recent acquisition of About You. Stefan opens with a high‑level financial sketch from the Otto group’s perspective, noting the roughly €300 million upfront investment and a €600 million cash payout, and questioning the true return on investment after accounting for opportunity costs. The discussion then moves to market effects: Rupert warns that the merger of the two strongest European fashion platforms could reduce competition, raise prices, and weaken brand bargaining power, while Coralie argues that the deal may be a necessary defensive move against fast‑growing Asian players like SHEIN and ASOS. The panel examines the overlapping product assortments (≈80‑90 % overlap) and the risk of brand cannibalisation, debating whether a two‑brand strategy can be maintained. Dörte steers the conversation toward post‑merger integration, highlighting potential synergies in supply‑chain logistics, carrier contracts, and ERP (SAP) consolidation, but also stressing the high cost, complexity, and a 3‑5‑year ROI horizon. Participants discuss the strategic importance of speed versus deep integration, the threat of Asian fast‑fashion models, possible EU antitrust scrutiny, and the need for a European‑scale platform to counter external competition. The panel concludes with a balanced outlook: success hinges on preserving brand differentiation, achieving operational efficiencies, and moving quickly, while acknowledging significant risks and uncertainties.

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