In May 2011 the company was bought by private equity firm TPG Capital.

[5] 150 head office staff were immediately made redundant, leaving 2,500 jobs at risk.

On 28 February 2013, Sports Direct bought 114 Republic stores, the brand name, all remaining stock and own-brands including SoulCal, Crafted and Fabric from the administrators.

[8][9] The company was positioned in the mass sector of the clothing market, and had a focus on young fashion.

Lines were stocked from casual brands including Bench, Fenchurch, G-Star Raw, American Apparel, Henleys and Drunknmunky, as well as own brands SoulCal & Co, Miso, Crafted, Fabric, and ex-brand White Label.