Authentic Brands Group has announced a binding offer to acquire Boardriders, a sports and lifestyle company with a portfolio of iconic brands including Quiksilver, Billabong, Roxy, RVCA and more. The move will strategically diversify and expand Authentic's portfolio with the addition of some of the most well-known brands in board sports.
Authentic Brands Group has announced a binding offer to acquire Boardriders, a sports and lifestyle company with a portfolio of iconic brands including Quiksilver, Billabong, Roxy, RVCA and more. The move will strategically diversify and expand Authentic's portfolio with the addition of some of the most well-known brands in board sports.
The acquisition will also include Surf Dive ‘n Ski, an Australian-based lifestyle retailer with a fleet of over 80 locations and a strong online platform. Boardriders, which is over 50 years old, has operations in the Americas, Europe, Australia and Asia, and its portfolio currently generates £2.3 billion in retail sales each year through a multichannel distribution network of over 500 owned retail stores, 7,000 wholesale accounts and websites in 35 countries.
Authentic Brands Group founder, chairman and chief executive Jamie Salter said: “As an early believer in the global and commercial appeal of action sports, this brings me back to the roots of my early career. Along with the great brands and impressive global reach that will come with this acquisition, we see Boardriders’ potential as a thriving online marketplace under Authentic’s ownership. With Boardriders’ proven retail playbook, we also see tremendous opportunities to accelerate the expansion of its shop-in-shops, branded retail stores, wholesale and e-commerce worldwide.”
Boardriders chief executive Arne Arens added: “We are proud of our deep connection to the global action sports community, industry-leading brands and world-class teams. Under Authentic’s ownership, Boardriders will be uniquely positioned to expand the reach of our iconic brands to millions of consumers, capture market share in our core categories and grow white spaces, including premium athleisure, training and lifestyle.”
The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2021. According to a statement from Authentic Brands Group, the acquisition will “strengthen the company’s position as a global leader in the sports and lifestyle industry.” (1)
Sources: https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2023/04/authentic-brands-to-acquire-boardriders/
