Fashion Investments and M&A

Date: June 2024
Buyer: Authentic Brands Group
Target: Champion
Business: Sportswear brand
Value: $1.2billion
Details: Authentic Brands Group (“ABG”) has acquired US sportswear and athleisure brand Champion for an estimated $1.2billion from HanesBrands Inc. The acquisition increases ABG’s existing portfolio of sports and lifestyle brands, including Billabong, Reebok, and Roxy. Subject to regulatory approval, the acquisition is expected to be finalised in the second half of 2024.

Date: June 2023
Buyer: Authentic Brands Group
Target: Hunter
Business: ‘Outdoor lifestyle’ and footwear brand, known for Hunter Wellies
Value: $125m
Details: Authentic Brands Group has acquired the IP of Hunter, the 160-year-old brand best known for its branded wellies, made famous by celebrities at festivals over the last decade. Authentic Brands has granted The Batra Group as core licensee in the UK and Europe (responsible for running Hunter’s retail stores, wholesale distribution and e-commerce there), and has agreed terms with Marc Fisher Footwear for footwear design, wholesale and e-commerce operations in the US.

Date: April 2023
Buyer: Authentic Brands Group
Target: Boardriders (Roxy, Quiksilver, Billabong)
Business: Surfwear and board sports
Value: undisclosed
Details: Authentic Brands Group has agreed to acquire Boardriders, the surf and lifestyle company which owns Roxy, Quiksilver and Billabong, amongst others, and operates in 35 countries. Though the purchase price has not yet been confirmed, it has been reported that Authentic Brands will pay close to $1billion for the acquisition. The deal is expected to close in Autumn 2023, subject to regulatory approvals.

Date: October 2022
Buyer: Authentic Brands Group
Target: Ted Baker
Business: Womenswear and accessories
Value: £211m
Details: Authentic Brands Group has acquired British brand Ted Baker for £211m, in a move to strengthen their British portfolio which includes a majority stake in David Beckham’s brand. Founded in London, Ted Baker is known for its womenswear fashion but also includes successful menswear, accessories and beauty divisions. As a result of the acquisition, Ted Baker Plc has been delisted from the Official List on the London Stock Exchange. Authentic Brands has reported that it intends to convert the Ted Baker business into a licenced business model, in line with the other brands it has acquired; seeking operating partners in key regions to become licensees, manufacturing the Ted Baker brand products, and running the Ted Baker stores under a licence from Authentic Brands.

Date: February 2022
Buyer: Authentic Brands Group
Target: David Beckham’s brand, DRJB Holdings Limited
Business: Fragrance, eyewear, luxury brands
Value: $269m
Details: Authentic Brands Group has acquired a majority stake (55%) in DB Ventures Limited, which holds the core activities of the David Beckham brand, including product endorsement deals with the likes of Tudor watches. Authentic Brands reportedly paid $269m for the DB Ventures shares, along with granting Mr Beckham an undisclosed number of consideration shares in Authentic Brands Group. The partnership was initially between Authentic Brands and DB Ventures Limited, a company in the wider corporate group owned by Mr Beckham, but following an internal reorganisation DB Ventures Limited is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of DRJB Holdings Limited. As such, Authentic Brands is now the majority shareholder of DRJB Holdings Limited (which contains the David Beckham brand), with the remaining shares held by Footwork Productions Limited (a Beckham group company) and Mr Beckham personally.

Date: August 2021
Buyer: Authentic Brands Group
Target: Reebok
Business: Sportswear
Value: Up to $2.5 billion
Details: Adidas has sold Reebok to Authentic Brands Group with the transaction expected to close early 2022 subject to customary closing conditions. It is reported that ABG plans to maintain Reebok’s footprint across retail, wholesale and e-commerce channels.

Date: 23 June 2021 (due to complete in third quarter of 2021, subject to regulatory approval)
Buyer: Authentic Brands Group
Target: IZOD, Van Heusen, ARROW an Geoffrey Beene brands (part of the Heritage Brands group portfolio)
Business: The intellectual property and other assets of PVH Corp.’s Heritage Brands business
Value: $220 million
Details: Authentic Brands Group (a brand development, marketing and entertainment company, which owns a portfolio of global media, entertainment and lifestyle brands) has entered into a definitive agreement with PVH Corp. to acquire certain intellectual property and other assets of PVH Corp.’s Heritage Brands business. The transaction includes the Izod, Van Heusen, Geoffrey Beene and Arrow brand trademarks. The Authentic Brands Group intends to leverage its global partner network and brand development expertise to continue creating a sustainable licensing business for the brands. The deal is expected to close in the third quarter of 2021 and is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval. Centric Brands and United Legwear & Apparel Company have been granted licenses to operate parts of the IZOD, Van Heusen and ARROW sportswear businesses.

Date: 3 July 2018
Buyer: Authentic Brands Group LLC. Vendor: Nine West Holdings, Inc.
Target: Nine West and Bandolina brands
Business: Footwear and handbags
Value: Reported over $340million​
Details: American brand development and licensing company, Authentic Brands Group LLC has acquired the Nine West and Bandolino brands, including all intellectual property, licensing partnerships and marketing activities for the brands. Amongst ABG’s existing portfolio of over 33 brands Juicy Couture, Thalia, Judith Leiber and Hickey Freeman.

Date: Announced 30 April 2018
Buyer: Authentic Brands Group LLC (ABG)
Target: Nautica brand
Business: Iconic American lifestyle brand
Value: Undisclosed
Details: ABG, a New-York based brand development, marketing and entertainment company which owns brands including Juicy Couture, Jones New York, Herve Leger and Judith Leiber, acquires the Nautica brand, including its brand marketing and licensing functions, from VF Corporation, a branded lifestyle, apparel, footwear and accessories company listed on the NYSE.

Date: April 2017
Buyer: Authentic Brands Group
Target: Frye
Business: Footwear brand
Value: Undisclosed
Details: Addition to ABG portfolio of a 51% stake in one of the oldest footwear brands in the US, acquired from Global Brands Group Holding.