Authentic acquires boat shoe brand Sperry

Authentic Brands Group, the owner of Ted Baker and Quicksilver to name a few, has announced the acquisition of Sperry, an American heritage footwear brand.

Through the acquisition, the ALDO Group comes on board as Sperry’s North American operating partner as well as the brand’s partner for footwear design, production and distribution globally.

Jamie Salter, Chairman and CEO of Authentic, said: "We are excited to bring Sperry into the Authentic platform.

"Sperry's influence extends far beyond fashion, embodying a lifestyle that celebrates exploration. We look forward to launching Sperry into a new era alongside ALDO Group, an incredible partner and leader in the footwear industry."

Sperry is renowned for its timeless and heritage-imbued footwear silhouettes, most famously its boat shoes. This particular style, which boasts a history spanning over 90 years, left an enduring impact on casual and leisure footwear worldwide.

Authentic will leverage its global network of category experts and operating partners to grow Sperry’s product offerings and expand its market share worldwide. What's more, in true Authentic fashion, the company will convert the Sperry business into a licensed model in line with its proven playbook.

With this announcement, Authentic also revealed plans to grow Sperry’s lifestyle offerings, including rainwear, sportswear, bags and accessories.

This isn't Authentic's first foray into footwear. Last July, the company saved innovative footwear brand Rockport from bankruptcy. With these acquisitions, the company is continuing to diversify its footwear portfolio.