30 Brands Owned by Authentic Brands Group

Most consumers have never heard of Authentic Brands Group. Yet they have almost certainly bought a product owned by it. ABG, as it is known in the industry, is a brand management and licensing company that controls approximately 50 brands with a combined annual retail sales volume exceeding $29 billion as of 2024. The company does not manufacture products, operate retail stores, or employ most of the workers who produce the goods sold under its brand names. It owns the intellectual property: the trademarks, the brand identities, the heritage. Everything else is licensed to operating partners.

This model, sometimes called an asset-light brand ownership structure, allows ABG to accumulate a large portfolio without the capital intensity of traditional retail or manufacturing. It has allowed the company to grow from a small brand management firm founded in 2010 into one of the most significant controllers of consumer brand IP in the world.

Who Owns Authentic Brands Group?

ABG is a private company headquartered in New York City, founded by Jamie Salter in 2010. Major investors include BlackRock, General Atlantic, CVC Capital Partners, and Simon Property Group, one of the largest mall operators in the United States. Simon's investment is strategically significant: ABG acquires brands, many of which previously anchored retail locations; Simon owns the malls where those brands operate.

A planned IPO was reportedly shelved in 2022 as market conditions deteriorated. As of early 2026, ABG remains private, with the company's valuation estimated at approximately $20 billion based on the most recent funding round disclosures. For a full deep dive on how ABG operates, see our post on how Authentic Brands Group built a $20 billion empire.

The Sportswear and Athletic Portfolio

1. Reebok Reebok is ABG's highest-profile acquisition. Adidas sold Reebok to ABG in February 2022 for approximately $2.5 billion, ending a 16-year ownership period during which Adidas struggled to integrate the brand into its portfolio. ABG licenses Reebok production and retail to operating partners while retaining the trademark and brand identity. For the full Reebok ownership history, see the Reebok brand page.

2. Volcom Volcom is a surf and action sports brand founded in 1991 in Costa Mesa, California. Kering acquired it in 2011 for approximately $608 million, then sold it to ABG in 2019 as Kering accelerated its focus on luxury fashion. ABG licenses Volcom's brand to manufacturing and retail partners globally.

3. Airwalk Airwalk was a skateboarding footwear brand founded in 1986 in Vista, California, that held a commanding position in skate culture through the late 1980s and early 1990s. After financial difficulties and declining brand relevance, ABG acquired Airwalk as part of its portfolio of heritage action sports brands. It operates primarily through licensed products in discount and specialty retail.

4. Spyder Spyder is a premium ski and outerwear brand founded in 1978 in Boulder, Colorado by David Jacobs. ABG acquired Spyder in 2021 through its sports and outdoor portfolio expansion. The brand continues to hold a premium position in competition ski racing apparel, supplying national ski teams in multiple countries.

5. Prince Sports Prince Sports is one of the oldest tennis equipment brands, founded in 1970 and credited with inventing the oversized racket head. ABG acquired Prince as part of its portfolio of heritage sports brands. The brand licenses rackets, bags, and apparel to manufacturing partners globally.

The Fashion and Apparel Portfolio

6. Forever 21 Forever 21 entered bankruptcy in September 2019, closing hundreds of stores globally. ABG, along with Simon Property Group and Brookfield Asset Management, acquired the brand assets out of bankruptcy in February 2020 for approximately $81 million. The acquisition illustrated ABG's model: purchase distressed brand IP at a discount, then relicense it to operating partners who bear inventory and store risk.

7. Brooks Brothers Brooks Brothers is the oldest American clothing retailer, founded in New York City in 1818. The company filed for bankruptcy in July 2020 after the pandemic accelerated the decline of its core office and formal wear business. ABG and Simon Property Group acquired Brooks Brothers out of bankruptcy for approximately $325 million in September 2020. The brand continues to operate stores under a licensed retail partner.

8. Lucky Brand Lucky Brand is an American denim brand founded in Los Angeles in 1990. The company filed for bankruptcy in July 2020, citing pandemic-related store closures. ABG acquired Lucky Brand's intellectual property out of bankruptcy for approximately $191 million. Lucky Brand products are now sold through licensed retail and e-commerce channels.

9. Aéropostale Aéropostale was a mall-based specialty retailer targeting teenagers, founded in 1987. The company filed for bankruptcy in May 2016. ABG, Simon Property Group, and General Growth Properties acquired it out of bankruptcy. The brand operates through licensed wholesale and online retail, having exited its own retail store network.

10. Juicy Couture Juicy Couture was founded in Pacoima, California in 1997 and became known for its velour tracksuits in the early 2000s. Authentic Brands Group acquired Juicy Couture from Authentic Brands predecessor operations. The brand operates primarily as a licensed fashion label sold through department stores and online retailers.

11. Nautica Nautica is a nautical-themed American lifestyle brand founded in 1983 in New York City. VF Corporation acquired Nautica in 2003, then sold it to ABG in 2016 for approximately $302 million as VF Corporation rationalized its portfolio. Nautica operates through licensed products and retail partnerships.

12. Nine West Nine West was a footwear and accessories brand founded in 1978 and known for affordable fashion heels. The Nine West Group filed for bankruptcy in April 2018. ABG acquired the Nine West and Bandolino brand trademarks out of bankruptcy for approximately $340 million and licenses them to wholesale retail partners.

13. Barneys New York Barneys New York was a luxury retailer with flagship stores on Madison Avenue and in Beverly Hills. The company filed for bankruptcy in August 2019 after failing to adapt its physical retail business. ABG acquired the Barneys intellectual property for approximately $271 million in October 2019, licensing the name to Saks Fifth Avenue for an online shop and eventually to other retail partners.

The Entertainment and Media Portfolio

14. Sports Illustrated Sports Illustrated magazine was founded in 1954 by Time Inc. and was acquired by ABG in 2019 when ABG purchased the brand from Meredith Corporation for approximately $110 million. ABG licenses the Sports Illustrated brand to The Arena Group, a digital media company, for publishing operations. The arrangement has created tension: ABG controls the brand IP while a separate licensee controls editorial operations, raising questions about editorial independence.

15. Marilyn Monroe ABG controls the intellectual property rights to Marilyn Monroe's name, likeness, and image through a licensing arrangement covering merchandise, film, and media. The Monroe estate was one of ABG's early acquisitions, establishing the company's model of acquiring celebrity estates alongside consumer brands.

16. Muhammad Ali ABG manages the intellectual property for Muhammad Ali, acquired through collaboration with the Muhammad Ali Enterprises. Licensing covers merchandise, documentaries, endorsements, and entertainment uses of the Ali name and likeness.

17. Elvis Presley ABG acquired a majority stake in Authentic Brands Group's Elvis Presley estate licensing business, including the Graceland property management business in Memphis, Tennessee. The transaction covers Elvis merchandise, music licensing, and the Graceland tourist attraction.

The Luxury and Heritage Portfolio

18. Vince Camuto Vince Camuto was a New York-based fashion designer who co-founded Nine West. The Vince Camuto brand covers footwear and accessories. ABG acquired the brand and manages its licensing across wholesale retail and e-commerce channels globally.

19. Judith Leiber Judith Leiber is a luxury handbag brand known for its minaudière evening bags and whimsical designs. ABG acquired Judith Leiber as part of its luxury accessories portfolio and licenses the brand to manufacturing and retail partners in the fashion accessories category.

20. Jones New York Jones New York is a workwear fashion brand founded in 1970 that held a strong department store presence through the 1980s and 1990s. ABG acquired the brand IP and licenses it to department store partners including Macy's and Kohl's.

The Outdoor and Adventure Portfolio

21. Eddie Bauer Eddie Bauer is an outdoor apparel brand founded in Seattle in 1920 by Eddie Bauer, who invented the first quilted goose-down jacket in North America. The brand filed for bankruptcy and was acquired by private equity multiple times before ABG and SPARC Group acquired a controlling interest. Eddie Bauer operates through licensed retail and e-commerce, with a wholesale presence in department stores.

22. Tretorn Tretorn is a Swedish sports and lifestyle brand founded in 1891. Known for tennis shoes and rain boots, Tretorn was acquired by Hanesbrands in 2015, then passed to ABG as part of portfolio consolidation. The brand is licensed for footwear and apparel primarily in Europe and North America.

The Health and Wellness Portfolio

23. Solgar ABG extended into health and wellness with the acquisition of Solgar, a premium vitamin and supplement brand founded in 1947. Solgar had been part of the NBTY supplement portfolio before ABG acquired it as part of a broader health brand aggregation strategy.

24. GNC (partial) ABG holds licensing rights to specific GNC brand elements following GNC's 2020 bankruptcy. The overlap between ABG's health brand portfolio and traditional supplement retail reflects the company's expansion beyond pure fashion and sports categories.

Understanding the ABG Model

The table below summarizes how ABG acquired several of its key properties and what each acquisition reveals about the company's strategy.

The pattern is consistent: ABG acquires brands with high consumer recognition that have encountered financial or strategic distress, often at a significant discount to their peak valuations. It then relicenses the brand IP to operating partners who handle manufacturing, retail, and inventory risk. ABG collects royalties while avoiding the operational complexities of running physical stores or supply chains.

This model is a structural alternative to traditional retail or manufacturing ownership. For a broader comparison of how brand management companies differ from traditional conglomerates, see our post on how private equity flips brands for profit and our overview of what a holding company is and which brands they own.

FAQ

Does ABG actually manufacture any of its brands' products? No. ABG is a brand management and licensing company. It owns trademarks and intellectual property but does not operate factories, run stores, or maintain inventories. It licenses the brand IP to manufacturing and retail partners who handle operations in exchange for royalty payments to ABG.

Is Authentic Brands Group publicly traded? As of early 2026, ABG is a private company. A planned IPO was reportedly shelved in 2022. The company's major investors include BlackRock, General Atlantic, and CVC Capital Partners. ABG's last disclosed valuation was approximately $20 billion.

What happens to a brand's quality and identity after ABG acquires it? Critics argue that the licensing model can dilute brand quality and identity because ABG's operating partners face pressure to maximize volume within licensed margins. Supporters argue that ABG preserves brand equity that would otherwise disappear entirely through bankruptcy. The evidence is mixed; Reebok has maintained product quality under ABG's licensing model, while other legacy brands have experienced significant downmarket repositioning.

Explore Related Brands

• Reebok - ABG's flagship sportswear acquisition, formerly owned by Adidas
• Forever 21 - Fast-fashion brand acquired out of 2019 bankruptcy
• Sports Illustrated - Media brand licensed to The Arena Group for editorial operations
• Brooks Brothers - America's oldest clothier, acquired out of 2020 bankruptcy
• Barneys New York - Luxury retailer brand acquired out of 2019 bankruptcy
• Volcom - Surf and skate brand, formerly owned by Kering

Browse all fashion and apparel brands

Sources

1. Authentic Brands Group Company Overview — https://authenticbrandsgroup.com/ 2. Reuters: Adidas sells Reebok to ABG, February 2022 — https://www.reuters.com 3. Bloomberg: ABG Valuation, 2022 — https://www.bloomberg.com 4. WSJ: Forever 21 Bankruptcy Acquisition — https://www.wsj.com 5. Simon Property Group Investor Relations — https://www.simon.com/investor-relations 6. Forbes: Jamie Salter Profile — https://www.forbes.com 7. SEC EDGAR: Meredith Corporation Filings — https://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar

All brand ownership data verified through WhoBrands.com research methodology. Last updated: February 2026.