Who Owns Helly Hansen?
Helly Hansen is owned by Kontoor Brands, the publicly traded apparel company behind Wrangler and Lee, which acquired the Norwegian brand from Canadian Tire Corporation for about $900 million in a deal that closed in May 2025. Helly Hansen operates from Oslo, Norway, with global distribution.
Who Owns Helly Hansen?
- Parent Company: Kontoor Brands, Inc.
- Ownership Type: Brand division
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock Ticker: NYSE: KTB
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Helly Hansen | Kontoor Brands, Inc. | Brand division |
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History of Helly Hansen
- Founded: 1877
- Founders: Helly Juell Hansen
Sea captain Helly Juell Hansen and his wife Margrethe founded the company in Moss, Norway, in 1877. They soaked linen in linseed oil to produce waterproof oilskin jackets, trousers, and tarpaulins for sailors, selling 10,000 pieces in the first five years.
Technical innovation defined the brand's first century. It introduced the Helox PVC waterproof fabric in 1949, the Helly Tech waterproof-breathable system in the 1980s, and the LIFA polypropylene base layer, among the earliest technical base layer systems in the industry.
Ownership turned over repeatedly in the modern era. Investcorp acquired the company in 1997. Nordic private equity firm Altor bought it in 2006 and expanded its retail and international presence. The Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan took a majority stake in 2012, then sold to Canadian Tire Corporation in 2018 for about C$985 million.
Under Canadian Tire, Helly Hansen ran as an autonomous international brand but sat uneasily inside a Canadian retail conglomerate. Kontoor's December 2024 agreement to acquire it for $900 million returned the brand to a dedicated apparel owner, and the deal closed May 31, 2025. Kontoor integrated it as its third major brand alongside Wrangler and Lee.
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As of 2026 the brand operates in more than 100 countries, with product lines spanning sailing, ski and outdoor, workwear, and urban lifestyle apparel. Its logo and HH initials remain among the most recognizable marks in technical apparel.
About Kontoor Brands, Inc.
What companies does Kontoor Brands own?
Kontoor Brands owns Wrangler, Lee, and Helly Hansen, along with the Musto brand which was acquired as part of Helly Hansen. The company was spun off from VF Corporation in 2019 with Wrangler and Lee, and acquired Helly Hansen in May 2025 for $957.5 million. In Q1 2026, Kontoor announced a competitive process to divest the Lee business.
Is Kontoor Brands publicly traded?
Yes, Kontoor Brands is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol KTB. The company was spun off from VF Corporation in May 2019 and has been independently traded since. It had 55,254,141 shares outstanding as of February 27, 2026.
Who is the CEO of Kontoor Brands?
Scott Baxter has served as President, CEO, and Chairman of the Board since the company's inception as an independent entity in 2019. He has led the company through its spinoff from VF Corporation, the Helly Hansen acquisition in 2025, and the planned divestiture of Lee in 2026.
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What is Kontoor Brands' revenue?
Kontoor Brands reported revenue of $3.15 billion for fiscal year 2025, the year ended January 3, 2026. This was a 21% increase from the prior year, including an 18 percentage point benefit from the Helly Hansen acquisition. For fiscal 2026, the company expects revenue from continuing operations of $2.66 to $2.71 billion.
Where is Kontoor Brands headquartered?
Kontoor Brands is headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina, USA. Greensboro has a long history as a center for the U.S. textile and apparel industry. Both Wrangler and Lee have deep roots in the region, and the company maintains its corporate offices there.
When was Kontoor Brands founded?
Kontoor Brands was established as an independent company in May 2019 when VF Corporation spun off its denim business. The brands within Kontoor have much longer histories: Helly Hansen was founded in 1877, Lee in 1889, and Wrangler in 1947.
Why is Kontoor selling Lee?
Kontoor announced the planned divestiture of Lee in Q1 2026 to focus on Wrangler and Helly Hansen, which CEO Scott Baxter described as having "the greatest potential to maximize shareholder returns." Lee's revenue declined 5% in fiscal 2025, while Wrangler grew 6%. The divestiture process has attracted interest from multiple parties, and the company anticipates entering a definitive agreement in 2026.
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- Founded: 2019
- Headquarters: Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock: NYSE: KTB
- Revenue: $3.15 billion (FY2025, year ended January 3, 2026)
- Employees: Approximately 17,000
Where Is Helly Hansen Made / Based?
- Headquarters: Oslo, Norway
- Manufacturing / Operations: Global contract manufacturing
Helly Hansen Categories & Tags
Helly Hansen Sustainability & Ethics
Helly Hansen publishes sustainability commitments including responsible materials sourcing, bluesign partnership for chemical management, and membership in industry programs. Its workwear and technical products increasingly use recycled fibers and fluorocarbon-free water-repellent treatments.
As a Kontoor brand since May 2025, it now sits under Kontoor's corporate sustainability framework, including science-based emissions targets. No B Corp certification applies. Its supplier base is contract manufacturing, subject to standard apparel-industry labor scrutiny.
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Helly Hansen Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Dedicated apparel owner aligned with brand growth after conglomerate years.
- +Kontoor's distribution scale accelerates North American and global expansion.
- +Workwear segment diversifies revenue beyond consumer cycles.
- +Heritage and professional credibility support premium positioning.
Considerations
- -Integration under Kontoor risks diluting Scandinavian brand identity.
- -Premium outdoor market is crowded with strong competitors.
- -Contract manufacturing exposes it to apparel supply-chain labor scrutiny.
- -Parent's denim-centric history is unproven in technical outdoor apparel.
Frequently Asked Questions About Helly Hansen
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Sources & Further Reading
Competitors to Helly Hansen
No direct competitors found in the same category. This could be because Helly Hansenoperates in a unique market segment or we're still building our competitor database.
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Kontoor Brands, Inc. Stock Information
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