Marubeni Boosts Lifestyle Footwear with Jacobson Group Acquisition

Marubeni Consumer Platform US (MCPU) has acquired Jacobson Group, a UK-based owner of a portfolio of well-known lifestyle footwear brands including Gola, Lotus, Ravel, and Frank Wright. The deal also encompasses licensed brands Dunlop and Lonsdale, though the financial terms remain undisclosed. This acquisition marks a significant move for Marubeni, a major US dealmaker, and solidifies MCPU’s position as a growing consumer platform focused on scalable and high-value businesses.

Jacobson Group will be integrated into MCPU’s existing lifestyle platform, with Marubeni’s RGB Brands acting as the operational core. Importantly, the current leadership team – Tony Evans, Gary Shutt, Jonathan Jacobson, and Donna Hill – will remain in place to ensure a smooth transition and preserve the company’s established industry knowledge and entrepreneurial spirit. This continuity is seen as crucial for maintaining the business’s momentum.

Harvey Jacobson, executive chairman and co-founder of Jacobson Group, expressed immense pride in the company’s achievements and gratitude towards its employees. He believes that Marubeni and RGB Brands provide the ideal foundation for the next stage of growth for Jacobson’s brands, offering a long-term vision and commitment to success. He extended his best wishes to the teams at Jacobson, RGB, and Marubeni as they begin this new chapter together.

MCPU highlighted Jacobson’s evolution from a family-run British footwear business into a globally recognized, multi-brand enterprise. Gola, with its over 120-year heritage and classic designs, is a key asset within the portfolio, strengthening the platform’s presence in high-potential categories. The acquisition is expected to fuel growth across the UK, US, and international markets, diversifying the platform and expanding into new territories.

RGB Brands will play a pivotal role in the integration, serving as the “platform engine” under the leadership of president and CEO Bob Mullaney. RGB brings over 75 years of category expertise, employing a consumer-focused, data-driven, and digitally-centric approach, alongside a commitment to sustainability. The company already manages a portfolio of consumer brands like Dearfoams, Baggallini, and Columbus Product Group, reaching millions of consumers through major retailers. Recently, RGB also agreed to acquire the global slipper license for Clarks and the US slipper license for Timberland.

The integration of Jacobson Group is anticipated to unlock significant value through shared scale, improved market access, and the opportunity to revitalize established brands with untapped potential. Shana Randhava, president of MCPU, emphasized that the deal advances the platform’s architecture and coincides with Gola’s increasing market popularity, establishing the MCPU lifestyle platform as a scalable, multi-brand ecosystem.

Bob Mullaney described the acquisition as a “transformative moment” for RGB Brands. He noted that Gola’s cultural relevance and global ambitions, combined with the broader Jacobson portfolio, will expand the platform’s reach across lifestyle and heritage categories. Mullaney affirmed a commitment to investing in the unique qualities of these brands, leveraging RGB’s scale, infrastructure, and operational expertise to accelerate growth in key international markets.