Iconix Brand – ICON – To Acquire Umbro

NASDAQ: ICON) announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the Umbro® brand and related intellectual property assets from NIKE, Inc. for $225 million in cash.  The transaction is expected to close by the end of the year.

Founded in 1924, Umbro is the original global football (soccer) brand. Today, the brand combines its British heritage with a modern football (soccer) lifestyle to create iconic sports apparel, footwear.

“Umbro is a true, authentic football brand with a global loyal consumer fan base and we are thrilled to be adding it to our portfolio of iconic brands,” stated, Neil Cole, CEO of Iconix. “Umbro is an exciting acquisition with more than 30 licensees in over 100 countries with a devout following.  We look forward to working with our international partners to maintain and expand upon the rich heritage of the brand,” Cole added.

“It is a difficult decision to divest any business but this will enable us to focus on our highest-potential growth opportunities,” said NIKE, Inc. President and CEO, Mark Parker. “Umbro has a great heritage, but ultimately, as our category strategy has evolved, we believe Nike Football can serve the needs of footballers both on and off the pitch.”

Iconix owns 29 consumer brands in the fashion, athletic, electronic, entertainment and home industries. With this acquisition, the Company’s brands will generate approximately $13 billion in retail sales globally, with over $2.5 billion attributable to the Company’s portfolio of athletic brands, which also includes Starter and Danskin. This transaction marks Iconix’s second deal with NIKE, as it purchased the Starter brand from them in 2007. Starter has flourished under Iconix leadership.

Details of this transaction will be discussed on the Company’s third quarter earnings conference call on Tuesday, October 30, 2012.

About Iconix Brand Group, Inc. – ICON

Iconix Brand Group, Inc. (ICON) owns, licenses and markets a growing portfolio of consumer brands including: CANDIE’S (R), BONGO (R), BADGLEY MISCHKA (R), JOE BOXER (R), RAMPAGE (R), MUDD (R), MOSSIMO (R), LONDON FOG (R), OCEAN PACIFIC (R), DANSKIN (R), ROCAWEAR (R), CANNON (R), ROYAL VELVET (R), FIELDCREST (R), CHARISMA (R), STARTER (R), WAVERLY (R), ZOO YORK (R), and SHARPER IMAGE (R). In addition, Iconix owns interests in the ARTFUL DODGER (R), ECKO (R), MARC ECKO (R), ED HARDY (R) MATERIAL GIRL (R), PEANUTS (R), and TRUTH OR DARE brands.

ICON licenses its brands to a network of leading retailers and manufacturers that touch every major segment of retail distribution from the luxury market to the mass market in both the U.S. and worldwide. Through its in-house business development, merchandising, advertising and public relations departments Iconix (ICON) manages its brands to drive greater consumer awareness and equity.

About NIKE, Inc.

NIKE, Inc. based near Beaverton, Oregon, is the world’s leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities.

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Post Written By: Ed Liston Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications. He is widely quoted in various financial publications on the Internet. When Ed is not writing about stocks, investing in stocks, talking about stocks, or otherwise doing something stock related, he likes to go sailing and fishing in his yacht.