SPARC news and archive

Michael Fernandez to lead wholesale operations at Catalyst Brands

Catalyst Brands, the company formed by the combination of JCPenney and the former SPARC Group, has named Michael Fernandez as its new chief wholesale and business development officer. In this role, Fernandez will oversee all of the company's wholesale operations, both domestically and internationally, as well as business-to-business and...

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Business

JCPenney and Sparc Group merge portfolios to form Catalyst Brands

JCPenney and Sparc Group have merged to form a new organization, Catalyst Brands, creating a portfolio of six retail banners. The combined group was formed in an all-equity transaction between JCPenney and Sparc Group, with shareholders Simon Property Group, Brookfield Corporation, Authentic Brands Group and Shein. The company said in a release...

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Business

Reebok’s US operations undergoes layoffs amid footwear restructuring

A number of layoffs have been confirmed at Sparc, the firm running the US operations of Reebok, as it looks to restructure the sportswear giant’s footwear business. Sparc, a joint venture between Authentic Brands Group, Simon Property Group and Shein, announced the news to various media outlets, including Retail Dive, to which it said it was...

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Business

Shein and Sparc Group establish strategic partnership to explore new strategies

Shein has entered a strategic partnership with Sparc Group in a bid to expand the duo’s reach across the US and explore new business strategies. While Shein will acquire an around one-third interest in Sparc Group, the firm that oversees Authentic Brands Group and Simon Property Group, Sparc is to become a minority shareholder in the Chinese...

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Business

ABG announces Sparc to take on operations for Reebok in US

Global brand development, marketing and entertainment company Authentic Brands Group (ABG) has finalised a long term partnership with Sparc Group to take on operations for Reebok in the US. Sparc will oversee Reebok’s sourcing, manufacturing, branded retail stores, ecommerce operations and wholesale distribution in the US. Sparc’s store count...

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Management

Authentic Brands Group and SPARC to acquire Eddie Bauer

Authentic Brands Group (ABG) and SPARC Group have signed a definitive agreement to purchase Eddie Bauer, the American outdoor brand, from PSEB Group, an operating company owned by Golden Gate Capital. The company said in a release that ABG will own Eddie Bauer’s intellectual property and the brand’s core operating business will become a part of...

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Business

Brooks Brothers sale finalised

Authentic Brands Group and Sparc Group have finalised the acquisition of US menswear retailer, Brooks Brothers for 325 million dollars. “We are thrilled to bring this world-class brand into the fold,” said Jamie Salter, founder, chairman, and chief executive of Authentic Brands Group. “Brooks Brothers comes at an important time in Authentic...

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Management|ANALYSIS

Change of paradigm? Property groups and multi-brand conglomerate join forces to save apparel retail

New York –In a matter of weeks, a leading commercial property firm, Simon Property Group, and a multi-brand apparel conglomerate, Authentic Brands, have joined forces and snapped two ailing apparel brands, with the industry anticipating a third one following suit in the next month. Are we facing a change of paradigm in the apparel industry? The...

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Management

Brooks Brothers to be acquired by Authentic Brands and Sparc Group

Brooks Brothers has announced that it is to be acquired by Authentic Brands Group and Sparc Group after they increased their offer from 305 million dollars to 325 million dollars. The two companies will take control of the vast majority of the menswear brand’s global business operations as a going concern as well as its intellectual property...