Company type | Private |
---|---|
Industry | |
Founded | 2010 |
Founder | Jamie Salter |
Headquarters | 1411 Broadway, New York City , United States [1] |
Brands | List of brands |
Revenue | $22.5 billion (2021) |
Owners | |
Website | authenticbrandsgroup.com |
Authentic Brands Group LLC (ABG) is an American brand management company headquartered in New York City. Its holdings include various apparel, athletics, and entertainment brands, which it partners with other companies to license and merchandise. [2] ABG owns more than 50 consumer brands, [3] as well as the likeness rights or estates of celebrities, including Muhammad Ali, Elvis Presley, and Marilyn Monroe.
The company was founded in 2010 by Jamie Salter, after he stepped down as CEO of Hilco Consumer Capital, a company that was involved in the restructuring of struggling consumer brands (such as Bombay Company and Polaroid Corporation). [4] Salter invested US$250 million in the new venture, and the majority of the equity was sold to Leonard Green & Partners. [4] Two of ABG's first major purchases were the clothing brands Silver Star and Tapout. [4] In January 2011, Authentic Brands Group acquired rights to the likeness of Marilyn Monroe. [4] [5] [6]
In October 2013, ABG announced the purchase of Juicy Couture from Fifth & Pacific for US$195 million. [7] The following month, ABG acquired the estate of Muhammad Ali, and CORE Media Group's 85% stake in Elvis Presley Enterprises (which includes the estate of Elvis Presley, likeness rights, and music publishing assets). [8] [9] [10] [11]
In December 2015, basketball player Shaquille O'Neal signed with ABG to manage his likeness and marketing rights. [12] In September 2016, Julius Erving also sold his name and licensing rights to ABG, [13] and Aéropostale was purchased out of bankruptcy by a consortium that included ABG and other investors. [14] [15]
In March 2017, ABG became the controlling partner of Greg Norman's consumer products business. [16]
In March 2018, ABG announced that they would acquire Nautica from VF Corporation. [17] On June 10, 2018, ABG announced that it was the winning bidder for the intellectual property of Nine West Holdings. [18] The acquisition was completed on July 3, 2018. [19] On October 10, 2018, ABG announced that it had entered into an agreement to purchase a majority stake in the intellectual property of the Camuto Group's proprietary brands in partnership with DSW Inc. [20]
In May 2019, ABG announced its acquisition of sports magazine Sports Illustrated from Meredith Corporation for US$110 million. [21] The company stated it planned to leverage its trademarks and other non-core assets in new ventures. Meredith will continue to publish the Sports Illustrated magazine and digital properties under license for at least two years. [22] On June 18, 2019, it was announced that rights to publish the Sports Illustrated editorial operations would be licensed to The Maven under a 10-year deal, with Ross Levinsohn as CEO. [23] In August 2019, BlackRock became the largest shareholder in Authentic Brands. [24]
In May 2020, ABG and David Glasser's 101 Studios formed a joint venture, Sports Illustrated Studios, for feature film and television projects. The joint venture would have a slate of several TV series and films per year. The first announced project was the Covers two-hour docuseries based on the magazine's cover stories. [25]
In August 2020, it was announced that Brooks Brothers was sold to ABG and Simon Property Group, the biggest mall operator in the US. The new owners committed to continuing to operate at least 125 Brooks Brothers retail locations worldwide (down from 424 global locations before the COVID-19 pandemic). [26]
In June 2021, it was announced that ABG would acquire the Izod, Van Heusen, Arrow, and Geoffrey Beene brands from PVH. [27]
In July 2021, ABG filed for an estimated US$1.5 billion initial public offering. [28] [29] In November 2021, ABG withdrew its IPO, selling private stake in the company to CVC Capital, HPS Investment Partners, and other current stakeholders at a company value of $12.7 billion. [30]
In August 2021, it was announced that ABG would be acquiring the sports clothing brand Reebok from Adidas for at least US$2.5 billion in a deal expected to close in the first quarter of 2022. [31] Private equity companies CVC Capital Partners and HPS Investment Partners invested $3.5 billion in ABG in a deal that closed in November 2021. [32] ABG announced they would delay the IPO until 2023 or 2024. [33]
In April 2023, ABG made a binding offer to acquire Boardriders, Inc. for US$1.25 billion. Boardriders includes the Quiksilver, Billabong, Roxy, RVCA, DC Shoes, Element, Von Zipper and Honolua brands, as well as the retailer Surf Dive 'n Ski. [34]
In January 2024, Authentic Brands Group, which had bought Sports Illustrated for $110 million from Meredith in 2019, terminated the agreement it holds with The Arena Group to publish, leading to all Sports Illustrated staffers being laid off. [35] In March 2024, Authentic Brands Group relicensed Sports Illustrated to Minute Media; the company planned to rehire some of the affected employees. [36]
In January 2024, Wolverine World Wide announced the sale of Sperry to Authentic Brands Group who in turn is licensing the brand to the Aldo Group for North American operations. [37] In June 2024, Hanesbrands announced plans to sell the Champion brand to Authentic Brands for $1.2 billion. [38]
Name | Industry or career | Acquired in | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
1 State | Fashion and luxury | 2018 | |
Above the Rim | Athletic wear | 2014 | [39] |
Aéropostale | Clothing retailer | 2016 | [40] |
Airwalk | Athletic wear | 2014 | [39] |
Billabong | Surf apparel | 2023 | [34] |
Muhammad Ali [lower-alpha 1] | Boxer | 2013 | |
Arrow | Formal/business casual clothing | 2021 | [27] |
Bandolino | Fashion and luxury | 2018 | |
Barneys New York | Luxury department store | 2019 | |
David Beckham [lower-alpha 1] | Football player | 2022 | |
Brooks Brothers [lower-alpha 2] | Upscale clothing retailer | 2020 | |
Chaus | Fashion and luxury | 2018 | |
Corso Como | Fashion and luxury | 2018 | |
DC Shoes | Skateboarding/snowboarding footwear brand | 2023 | [34] |
Drexel | Home | 2018 | |
Eddie Bauer | Outdoor apparel | 2021 | |
Element Skateboards | Skateboard brand | 2023 | [34] |
Enzo Angiolini | Fashion and luxury | 2018 | |
Julius Erving [lower-alpha 1] | Basketball player | 2016 | [41] |
First Semester | Fashion and luxury | 2018 | |
Forever 21 | Fast fashion retailer | 2020 | [42] |
Frederick's of Hollywood | Lingerie retailer | 2015 | [43] |
Frye | Fashion and luxury | 2017 | [44] |
Geoffrey Beene | Midscale fashion label | 2021 | [27] |
Greg Norman Shark | Athletic wear | 2017 | |
Hart Schaffner Marx | Menswear manufacturer | 2012 | [45] |
Henredon | Home | 2018 | |
Hervé Léger | Fashion and luxury | 2017 | [46] |
Hickey Freeman | Suit manufacturer | 2012 | [45] |
Hind | Athletic wear | 2014 | [39] |
Honolua | Hawaiian/surf apparel | 2023 | [34] |
Izod | Preppy/golf clothing brand | 2021 | [27] |
Jimmy'z | Fashion and luxury | 2016 | |
Jones New York | Fashion and luxury | 2015 | [47] |
Juicy Couture | Women's clothing brand | 2013 | |
Judith Leiber [lower-alpha 1] | Fashion label | 2013 | [48] |
Louise et Cie | Fashion and luxury | 2018 | |
Lucky Brand Jeans | Denim company | 2020 | |
Misook | Fashion and luxury | 2012 | [45] |
Monarchy | Fashion and luxury | 2012 | |
Marilyn Monroe [lower-alpha 1] | Actress | 2010 | |
Nautica | Preppy clothing brand | 2018 | [49] |
Neil Lane | Fashion and luxury | 2017 | [50] |
Nine West | Fashion retailer | 2018 | [51] |
Greg Norman [lower-alpha 1] | Golfer | 2017 | [52] |
Shaquille O'Neal [lower-alpha 1] | Basketball player | 2015 | [53] |
Palm Beach | Fashion and luxury | 2012 | |
Elvis Presley [lower-alpha 1] | Singer | 2013 | |
Prince Sports | Sporting goods manufacturer | 2012 | [54] |
Quiksilver | Surf apparel | 2023 | [34] |
Reebok | Athletic wear | 2022 | [31] |
Rockport | Shoes | 2023 | [55] |
Roxy | Women's lifestyle brand | 2023 | [34] |
RVCA | Skateboard/surf apparel | 2023 | [34] |
Sansabelt | Fashion and luxury | 2012 | |
Silver Star | Athletic wear | 2010 | [56] |
Sole Play | Fashion and luxury | 2018 | |
Sole Society | Fashion and luxury | 2018 | |
Sportcraft | Athletic wear | 2012 | [57] |
Sports Illustrated | Sports magazine | 2019 | [58] |
Spyder | Ski apparel manufacturer | 2013 | [59] |
Sterling & Hunt | Fashion and luxury | 2012 | |
Tapout | Sports clothing brand | 2010 | [56] |
Taryn Rose | Fashion and luxury | 2013 | [48] |
Ted Baker | Fashion and luxury | 2022 | [60] |
Thalía [lower-alpha 1] | Singer | 2016 | [61] |
Thomasville | Home | 2018 | [62] |
Tretorn | Fashion and luxury | 2015 | [63] |
Van Heusen | Formal/business casual clothing | 2021 | [27] |
Vince Camuto | Fashion label | 2018 | [64] |
Vision Street Wear | Skateboard apparel and footwear | 2014 | [39] |
Adrienne Vittadini [lower-alpha 1] | Fashion and luxury | 2013 | [48] |
Volcom | Lifestyle brand | 2019 | [65] |
Von Zipper | Extreme sports apparel | 2023 | [34] |
Zooey | Fashion and luxury | 2012 |
Sports Illustrated (SI) is an American sports magazine first published in August 1954. Founded by Stuart Scheftel, it was the first magazine with a circulation of over one million to win the National Magazine Award for General Excellence twice. It is also known for its annual swimsuit issue, which has been published since 1964, and has spawned other complementary media works and products.
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Nautica is an American apparel brand of Authentic Brands Group (ABG) featuring primarily men's, women's, children's apparel and accessories, as well as home, watches, and fragrance. Nautica was founded in 1983 by clothing designer David Chu and a partner. It was purchased for cash and stock in 1984 by State-O-Maine, a New York–based apparel company. State-O-Maine changed its name to Nautica in 1994. VF Corporation purchased Nautica in 2003.
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PVH Corp., formerly known as the Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation, is an American clothing company which owns brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Warner's, Olga and True & Co. The company also licenses brands such as Kenneth Cole New York and Michael Kors. PVH is partly named after Dutch immigrant John Manning van Heusen, who in 1910 invented a new process that fused cloth on a curve.
Forever 21 is a multinational fast-fashion retailer headquartered in Los Angeles, California, United States. Originally founded as the store Fashion 21 in Highland Park, Los Angeles in 1984, it is currently operated by Authentic Brands Group and Simon Property Group, with about 540 outlets.
The Izod Corporation is an American midrange clothing company that produces dressy-casual clothing, sportswear for men, and footwear and accessories. It is a division of Authentic Brands Group, and is currently marketed and manufactured by Centric Brands under a long-term licensing agreement. Other Izod classics include the Harrington jacket G-9 model and V-neck and cardigan sweaters. Today, the closest competitor of the Izod brand is the Chaps brand owned by Ralph Lauren Corporation, while the U.S. Polo Assn. brand is also an indirect competitor.
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Frasers Group plc is a British retail, sport and intellectual property group, named after its ownership of the department store chain House of Fraser.
Reebok International Limited is an American fitness footwear and clothing brand that is a part of Authentic Brands Group. It was established in England in 1958 as a companion company to J.W. Foster and Sons, a sporting goods company which had been founded in 1895 in Bolton, Lancashire. From 1958 until 1986, the brand featured the flag of the United Kingdom in its logo to signify the origins of the company. It was bought by German sporting goods company Adidas in 2005, then sold to the United States-based Authentic Brands Group in 2021. The company's global headquarters are located in Boston, Massachusetts, in the Seaport District.
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Tapout Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and manufactures sports clothing, casual apparel, and accessories headquartered in Grand Terrace, California. It was the largest distributor of MMA merchandise in the world by 2007, and became one of the dominant brands in activewear and fitness culture.
The acquisition of 21st Century Fox by The Walt Disney Company was announced on December 14, 2017, and was completed on March 20, 2019. Among other key assets, the acquisition included the 20th Century Fox film and television studios, U.S. cable channels such as FX, Fox Networks Group, a 73% stake in National Geographic Partners, Indian television broadcaster Star India, and a 30% stake in Hulu. The assets like the Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox Television Stations, Fox News Channel, Fox Business, Fox Sports 1 and 2, Fox Deportes, and the Big Ten Network were not part of the deal and they were spun off into a new company called Fox Corporation on March 19, 2019. Other 21st Century Fox assets such as the Fox Sports Networks and Sky were divested and sold off to Sinclair and Comcast, respectively.