Galaxy Universal, which owns a number of athletic apparel and footwear brands, has acquired Reebok's U.S. operations and its design group. Sparc Group, which has been the operating partner for Reebok in the U.S. since 2021, announced the news in a press release last week that also shared the details of its merger with JCPenney.
Under the merger, JCPenney and Sparc Group will form Catalyst Brands, whose brand portfolio includes Aéropostale, Brooks Brothers, Eddie Bauer, Lucky Brand and Nautica, with JCPenney and its exclusive private brands, including Stafford, Arizona, and Liz Claiborne.
In addition to the sale of Reebok's U.S. operations, the newly formed Catalyst Brands said it was "exploring strategic options" for the operations of Forever 21, also owned by Sparc Group.
Total Retail's Take: Reebok has had several parent companies and operating partners over the past few years. It was under the Adidas umbrella from 2005 to 2021, when it was acquired by Authentic Brands Group, which also owns brands like Champion, Nautica, Hunter, and Element. Sparc Group has been the operating partner for Reebok's U.S. operations since the Authentic Brands acquisition, overseeing sourcing, manufacturing, branded retail stores, e-commerce operations and wholesale distribution for Reebok in the U.S. It also served as the global hub for the Reebok Design Group, which was responsible for all design, development, innovation and creative services.

Marie Albiges is the managing editor for Women in Retail, Total Retail, and Women Leading Travel & Hospitality. She is responsible for content development, management and production for the group. Marie is a former journalist, a travel aficionado, a French native and fitness enthusiast who lives in Philadelphia with her partner, stepdaughter and dog.Â