08 Jun K-Swiss Acquires KR3W Denim and Supra Footwear
K-Swiss Global Brands (KSGB), also known as K-Swiss Inc., a division of E.Land Group, announced its acquisition of One-Distribution, a leading skate-inspired apparel and footwear manufacturer and parent company of KR3W Denim Co. (KR3W) and Supra Footwear (Supra).
KSGB acquired the Fountain Valley, CA-based firm from a group of shareholders, including Bertram Capital, a San Matteo, CA-based private equity firm and a small group of private investors, including One-Distribution founders Angel Cabada and Scott Bailey who will support the brands in a consulting capacity. The price was not disclosed.
Concurrently, KSGB has announced the appointment of Robert “Cape” Capener will as president of both Supra and KR3W, reporting to Larry Remington, President and CEO of KSGB.
Capener has enjoyed a storied career within the athletic apparel, footwear and action sports industries, both launching new products and building brands. He founded the Above the Rim and Heaton brands, and has held senior positions at Adidas, Reebok and No Fear.
“Having formed KSGB just two years ago, we are on an aggressive track to become one of the world’s leading multi-brand companies,” said KSGB President and CEO Larry Remington. “KR3W and Supra are brands that meet the distinctions we are looking for in our portfolio: authenticity, strong brand awareness, a track record of product innovation and opportunities for long-term, global growth. We are excited to join forces with the ONE-Distribution teams and lay a foundation for the future.”
This acquisition brings the KSGB portfolio to a total of six globally distributed brands, including K-Swiss, Palladium, PLDM, OTZ Shoes, KR3W and Supra Footwear.
KSGB is a division of E-Land Group, a $10 billion conglomerate based in South Korea that owns more than 200 brands, 10,000 retail stores and business across apparel, footwear, retail, hotels, leisure and entertainment. The KSGB and ONE-Distribution leadership teams will work quickly over the following weeks to develop integrated plans for the company and its newest entities.
Founded in 2006, Supra quickly became one of the largest and most successful independent sneaker brands in the skate industry. Famous for its game-changing Skytop shoe, Supra has evolved as a globally relevant lifestyle brand.
KR3W, an apparel brand with a foundation in skate culture, began in 2003. The brand made its name in denim, and changed the young men’s denim paradigm with the introduction of its K Slim Denim Jean using an innovative stretch fabric and a narrow profile. KR3W has since expanded its apparel range, successfully blurring the lines between skate and fashion, while maintaining its “Dark Americana” aesthetic.
ONE-Distribution currently has offices in Fountain Valley, CA, Barcelona, Spain, Sydney, Australia and Dongguan, China, and has five multi-brand retail stores in Los Angeles, New York City, Mexico City, Paris and Tokyo.
K-Swiss Global Brands, also known as K-Swiss Inc. is a division of E.Land Group serving as E-Land’s base of operations in the Americas and EMEA. KSGB owns a growing portfolio of leading, global lifestyle brands including K-Swiss, Palladium, PLDM, OTZ Shoes, Supra Footwear and the KR3W Denim Co. The company is globally headquartered in Westlake Village, CA with offices in Toronto, Fountain Valley, Haarlem, Lyon, Barcelona, Sydney, Dongguan, Hong Kong and Tapei. KSGB conducts business in more than 100 countries worldwide and will operate up to 500 proprietary retail stores globally by year-end 2015.
Established in 1980 in Korea, E.Land has grown to become one of the largest South Korean conglomerates, primarily specializing in fashion and retail distribution. E.Land is Korea’s first and largest integrated fashion and retail company, with operations spanning nine different countries across three continents, including Korea, China, India, the United States, Italy and the United Kingdom. Comprised of over 60 affiliated entities, the company offers close to 200 brands and operates more than 10,000 stores worldwide, recording approximately US$ 8 billion of revenues in 2012. In addition to K-Swiss, E.Land’s newer businesses include restaurants, construction and leisure. The company is actively involved in community service both locally and worldwide through its own E.Land Foundation, being one of the most civically active corporations in Korea, India, Vietnam and China.