Authentic Brands Group

American brand development and licensing company

  • Brand management
  • talent management
  • retail
  • publishing
Founded2010; 14 years ago (2010)FounderJamie SalterHeadquarters1411 Broadway,
New York City
,
United States[1]
Revenue$22.5 billion (2021)Owners
  • CVC Capital Partners
  • HPS Investment Partners
Subsidiaries
  • Aéropostale
  • Brooks Brothers
  • Eddie Bauer
  • Forever 21
  • Nine West
  • Nautica
  • Prince
  • Reebok
  • Rockport
  • Spyder
  • Tapout
  • Thomasville
  • Vision Street Wear
Websiteauthenticbrandsgroup.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.

History

Origins and early work

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]

2010s

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]

2020s

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 of 2021, AGB 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 terminated.[35]

Portfolio

Name Industry or career Acquired in Ref.
1 State Fashion and luxury 2018
Above the Rim Athletic wear 2014 [36]
Aéropostale Clothing retailer 2016 [37]
Airwalk Athletic wear 2014 [36]
Billabong Surf apparel 2023 [34]
Muhammad Ali[a] Boxer 2013
Arrow Formal/business casual clothing 2021 [27]
Bandolino Fashion and luxury 2018
Barneys New York Luxury department store 2019
David Beckham[a] Football player 2022
Brooks Brothers[b] 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[a] Basketball player 2016 [38]
First Semester Fashion and luxury 2018
Forever 21 Fast fashion retailer 2020 [39]
Frederick's of Hollywood Lingerie retailer 2015 [40]
Frye Fashion and luxury 2017 [41]
Geoffrey Beene Midscale fashion label 2021 [27]
Greg Norman Shark Athletic wear 2017
Hart Schaffner Marx Menswear manufacturer 2012 [42]
Henredon Home 2018
Hervé Léger Fashion and luxury 2017 [43]
Hickey Freeman Suit manufacturer 2012 [42]
Hind Athletic wear 2014 [36]
Honolua Hawaiian/surf apparel 2023 [34]
Izod Preppy clothing brand 2021 [27]
Jimmy'z Fashion and luxury 2016
Jones New York Fashion and luxury 2015 [44]
Juicy Couture Women's clothing brand 2013
Judith Leiber[a] Fashion label 2013 [45]
Louise et Cie Fashion and luxury 2018
Lucky Brand Jeans Denim company 2020
Misook Fashion and luxury 2012 [42]
Monarchy Fashion and luxury 2012
Marilyn Monroe[a] Actress 2010
Nautica Preppy clothing brand 2018 [46]
Neil Lane Fashion and luxury 2017 [47]
Nine West Fashion retailer 2018 [48]
Greg Norman[a] Golfer 2017 [49]
Shaquille O'Neal[a] Basketball player 2015 [50]
Palm Beach Fashion and luxury 2012
Elvis Presley[a] Singer 2013
Prince Sports Sporting goods manufacturer 2012 [51]
Quiksilver Surf apparel 2023 [34]
Reebok Athletic wear 2022 [31]
Rockport Shoes 2023 [52]
Roxy Women's lifestyle brand 2023 [34]
RVCA Skateboard/surf apparel 2023 [34]
Sansabelt Fashion and luxury 2012
Silver Star Athletic wear 2010 [53]
Sole Play Fashion and luxury 2018
Sole Society Fashion and luxury 2018
Sportcraft Athletic wear 2012 [54]
Sports Illustrated Sports magazine 2019 [55]
Spyder Ski apparel manufacturer 2013 [56]
Sterling & Hunt Fashion and luxury 2012
Tapout Sports clothing brand 2010 [53]
Taryn Rose Fashion and luxury 2013 [45]
Ted Baker Fashion and luxury 2022 [57]
Thalía[a] Singer 2016 [58]
Thomasville Home 2018 [59]
Tretorn Fashion and luxury 2015 [60]
Van Heusen Formal/business casual clothing 2021 [27]
Vince Camuto Fashion label 2018 [61]
Vision Street Wear Skateboard apparel and footwear 2014 [36]
Adrienne Vittadini[a] Fashion and luxury 2013 [45]
Volcom Lifestyle brand 2019 [62]
Von Zipper Extreme sports apparel 2023 [34]
Zooey Fashion and luxury 2012

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Indicates personal brand
  2. ^ Co-owned by Simon Property Group

References

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  4. ^ a b c d "Toronto native Jamie Salter rebrands Marilyn Monroe". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on October 29, 2016. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
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External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Authentic Brands Group.
  • Official website Edit this at Wikidata
  • Selyukh, Alina (October 30, 2023). "Step into the World of Undead Brands". All Things Considered. NPR. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
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