(Adds details)
JOHANNESBURG, May 25 (Reuters) - TFG (The Foschni Group) TFGJ.J will buy menswear chain Retail Apparel Group (RAG), the South African retailer said on Thursday, marking its first foray into Australia with a deal that includes more than 400 outlets.
TFG said it would pay 302.5 million Australian dollars ($225.82 million), or seven times RAG's expected 2017 earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA). The price excludes debt.
The company has made three overseas acquisitions in as many years as it looks for growth beyond sub-Saharan Africa where poor shopping infrastructure and weakening economies limit potential.
The transaction will allow TFG to add low to mid-market store brands such Tarocash and Connor to its portfolio of stores that include menswear chain Markham and Total Sports, the biggest reseller of Nike (NYSE:NKE) NKE.N and Adidas ADSGn.DE merchandise in South Africa.
TFG bought British high street chain Whistles last year, following an acquisition of UK footwear and clothes retailer Phase Eight the year before.
RAG, which also operates New Zealand and was formed in 1987, was sold by its founder Stephen Leibowitz and private equity firm Navis Capital, which took a majority stake in it in 2011.
($1 = 1.3396 Australian dollars)