Jan. 20, 2026Marubeni Corporation
Marubeni Corporation (hereinafter, “Marubeni”) has acquired the licensing rights for the slipper category of the footwear brands Clarks® and Timberland® from Green Market Services Company, Inc. (hereinafter, “GMS”), as part of its initiative to build a lifestyle brand business platform anchored by R.G. Barry Corporation (hereinafter, “RGB”), a lifestyle brand management company (hereinafter, the “Acquisition”).
Clarks®, founded in 1825, is one of the largest footwear brands in the UK, recognized globally for its quality, design, and comfort, with a presence in more than 100 countries and regions. Timberland®, established in the U.S. in 1973, is a globally recognized lifestyle brand known for its outdoor-inspired functionality and distinctive design. The Acquisition is structured as an asset acquisition whereby RGB acquires from GMS the global licensing rights for the slipper category of Clarks®, excluding certain territories, as well as the U.S. licensing rights for the slipper category of Timberland®. By integrating these licenses with RGB’s robust operating platform—including Dearfoams, the market leader in the U.S. in room shoes and slippers—Marubeni aims to broaden RGB’s brand portfolio and further scale its lifestyle brand business.
In 2024, Marubeni Consumer Platform U.S. (“MCPU”), one of the dedicated investment platforms under Marubeni’s Next Generation Corporate Development Division, entered the lifestyle brand management business through the acquisition of RGB. The Acquisition represents the second roll-up transaction executed by RGB, following the acquisition of Jacobson Group Limited (hereinafter, “Jacobson”).
Under its Mid-Term Management Strategy GC2027, Marubeni is focusing on Strategic Platform Businesses (businesses with “Growth Domains x High Added Value x Scalability”). The Next Generation Corporate Development Division aims to capture growth in high-potential consumer-related businesses through investments and M&A, with the aim of building businesses that will become new pillars of Marubeni in 2030. In the lifestyle brand management business, Marubeni will continue to expand its brand portfolio and earnings base through the roll-up of synergistic growth brands following Jacobson and the Acquisition, while scaling its lifestyle brand business platform. By developing brands that closely align with increasingly diverse consumer preferences, Marubeni is committed to enhancing its long-term corporate value.
Related News Releases・Jan. 7, 2026Establishment of a Lifestyle Brand Business Platform: Acquisition of UK Footwear Brand Jacobson Grouphttps://www.marubeni.com/en/news/2026/release/00003.html
・Jun. 10, 2024Marubeni Enters the Lifestyle Brand Management Business in the U.S.https://www.marubeni.com/en/news/2024/release/00035.html
