AUTHENTIC BRANDS BUYS ROCKPORT
Authentic Brands Group (Authentic), a global brand development, marketing and entertainment platform, today announced that the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware has approved the sale transaction of Rockport, a renowned footwear brand. The addition of Rockport expands Authentic’s diverse footwear portfolio with a trusted brand, committed to comfort and technical product innovation.
Rockport has long been recognized as a pioneer in the footwear industry credited as one of the first brands to engineer athletic soles into its dress shoes. With Rockport, Authentic is poised to leverage its expertise in brand development and strategic partnerships to propel the Rockport brand into new heights and unlock its full potential.
Jamie Salter, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Authentic, said, “Rockport’s core consumer is more active than ever. The brand’s offering is a perfect addition to our portfolio with opportunities for category expansion into apparel, accessories, outerwear, travel and more.” Salter added, “There is a significant addressable market, presenting opportunities for the brand to evolve into a full lifestyle offering with a focus on innovation and comfort.”
In addition, Authentic has signed a long-term licensing agreement with key partner Marc Fisher Footwear, a leading full-service fashion footwear company and the US footwear partner for Authentic-owned Nine West, Hunter Boots and Bandolino. Marc Fisher will become the core footwear partner for Rockport in the US, taking on the brand’s footwear design, wholesale and e-commerce operations in the territory.
“We are excited to partner with Authentic on Rockport, a brand with great consumer equity,” said Marc Fisher, CEO of Marc Fisher Footwear. “Rockport’s strong connection to its core consumer presents compelling growth opportunities within the men’s footwear market and, we look forward to continuing to build upon its foundation with Authentic.”
Today, Rockport can be found in various retail channels in more than 60 countries worldwide. Authentic is expected to announce additional partners in the coming months and will leverage its proprietary platform, expertise and global network of best-in-class partners to expand the brand across categories and territories. Upon next month’s closing of Rockport and Boardriders, Authentic’s portfolio will generate more than $29B in annual retail sales worldwide.
