Authentic Brands Acquires MMA Labels Tapout and Silver Star
New York–based Authentic Brands Group has announced its acquisition of two California-based mixed martial arts–related brands—Tapout and Silver Star Casting Co. Financial details of the acquisitions were not released.
Authentic Brands, which owns and manages the Bob Marley family of brands, sees potential in the MMA apparel sector. “This sport is still in its infancy. We strategically chose these acquisitions as our first big move because we’re getting into the right business at the right time,” said Jamie Salter, Authentic’s chairman and chief executive, in a statement. “We’re looking forward to working with the best brands and the best athletes in the world as we transition these two companies into global lifestyle brands with our retail and licensing partners.”
As part of the Tapout and Silver Star acquisitions, Authentic Brands is adding sister brands TapoutMPS, HitmanFight Gear and Iron Star to its roster of MMA labels. Irvine, Calif.–based Silver Star makes T-shirts, hoodies and denim for men and T-shirts for women, all with an MMA aesthetic. Tapout, one of the best-known MMA brands, thanks in part to the reality television series of the same name, was founded 15 years ago in Grand Terrace, Calif., by the late Charles “Mask” Lewis, Dan “Punkass” Caldwell and Timm “Skyskrape” Katz. The company sells heavily branded casualwear for men and women, including T-shirts, swimwear, sweatsuits and hoodies, as well as MMA training gear.—Erin Barajas
