Authentic Partners with BRJ Group for Quiksilver, Billabong, Roxy, RVCA, DC Shoes, Element and Von Zipper in Japan and Taiwan
Authentic Brands Group (Authentic), a global brand development, marketing and entertainment platform, today announces a partnership with BRJ Group to operate the Boardriders business in Japan and Taiwan, which includes the brands Quiksilver, Billabong, Roxy, RVCA, DC Shoes, Element and Von Zipper.
BRJ Group, with SMBC Capital Partners as its majority investor, will be controlled by the existing management team of Boardriders Japan and Taiwan. Under the agreement, the team will assume the pivotal roles of developing, manufacturing and distributing the full portfolio of brands within the territories, both of which are dynamic and thriving action and outdoor sports markets.
"This partnership with BRJ represents a strategic move for Authentic to strengthen our foothold in these important regions," said Wesley Chu, EVP, APAC, Authentic. "BRJ’s deep understanding of the local Japanese and Taiwanese cultures, coupled with the management team’s proven track record in brand development and distribution for these iconic brands, aligns seamlessly with our expansion strategy."
The business will continue to be led by Sammy Yoo, a 13-year veteran of the legacy Boardriders’ portfolio. The company's commitment to authenticity and passion for the lifestyle and values represented by these brands make them a natural addition of Authentic’s robust network of best-in-class partners.
"We are thrilled to continue shaping the future of these iconic brands across Japan and Taiwan under BRJ," said Sammy Yoo, President of Boardriders North Asia Pacific. "Our team is dedicated to maintaining the essence of each brand while strategically growing their presence in these dynamic markets. Together with Authentic Brands Group, we look forward to creating memorable experiences for our customers."
This partnership underscores Authentic’s commitment to global brand expansion and reflects the existing management team’s dedication to providing unparalleled experiences to consumers in Japan and Taiwan. The partnership is set to ignite new opportunities for growth, innovation and engagement, ensuring that Quiksilver, Billabong, Roxy, RVCA, DC Shoes, Element and VonZipper continue to be at the forefront of lifestyle and action sports culture in the region.
About Authentic Brands Group
Authentic Brands Group (Authentic) is a global brand development, marketing and entertainment platform, which owns a portfolio of more than 50 iconic and world-renowned Lifestyle, Entertainment and Media brands. Headquartered in New York City, with offices around the world, Authentic connects strong brands with best-in-class partners and a global network of operators, distributors and retailers to build long-term value in the marketplace. Its brands generate more than $29 billion in global annual retail sales and have an expansive retail footprint in 150 countries, including 13,100-plus freestanding stores and shop-in-shops and 370,000 points of sale.
Authentic is committed to transforming brands by delivering powerful storytelling, compelling content, innovative business models and immersive experiences. It creates and activates original marketing strategies to drive the success of its brands across all consumer touchpoints, platforms and emerging media. Authentic’s brand portfolio includes Marilyn Monroe®, Elvis Presley®, Muhammad Ali®, Shaquille O’Neal®, David Beckham®, Dr. J®, Greg Norman®, Neil Lane®, Thalia®, Sports Illustrated®, Reebok®, Brooks Brothers®, Barneys New York®, Judith Leiber®, Ted Baker®, Hunter®, Vince®, Hervé Léger®, Hickey Freeman®, Frye®, Nautica®, Juicy Couture®, Vince Camuto®, Lucky Brand®, Aéropostale®, Forever 21®, Nine West®, Rockport®, Eddie Bauer®, Boardriders®, Quiksilver®, Billabong®, Roxy®, DC Shoes®, RVCA®, Element®, VonZipper®, Honolua®, Spyder®, Volcom®, Shark®, Tretorn®, Prince®, Airwalk®, Izod®, Jones New York®, Van Heusen®, Hart Schaffner Marx®, Arrow® and Thomasville®.
For more information, visit corporate.authentic.com.
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About BRJ Group
BRJ Group is a company with invest from SMBC Capital Partners (SMBCCP), a wholly owned private equity firm of Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation. The BRJ Group is a leading company in the sports apparel industry, offering a diverse range of product categories, spanning from action sports, surfing, skateboarding, and snowboarding to lifestyle choices such as fitness, street fashion apparel, footwear, and accessories. BRJ Group was created by SMBCCP and the existing management team of Boardriders Japan and Taiwan to license, import, develop, manufacture and distribute the portfolio of brands under license. The BRJ Group consists of the existing Boardriders Japan and Quiksilver Retail Taiwan companies. BRJ Group is committed to strategically growing the Billabong, Roxy, Quiksilver, DC Shoe, RVCA, Element and Von Zipper brands, while maintaining the integrity and strength of these brands.