Descente Acquires Inov-8 Majority Share

Japanese sportswear maker Descente has acquired a majority share in UK-based all terrain brand, inov-8, with the purchase of 80% of the inov-8 Group.

Descente has been the distributor of inov-8 shoes in Japan, Korea and Hong Kong since 2013.

Descente president Masatoshi Ishimoto commented: “I am delighted to welcome inov-8 into the Descente Group of Companies. Through this significant acquisition, I believe we can give full play to the strengths of both Descente and inov-8, helping inov-8 to further develop and expand its global operations, and in doing so, ensuring the future growth of the Group’s overall shoe business, which is a key objective of current management planning.

“By assimilating inov-8’s impressive research and development capabilities we create many exciting new possibilities for product development within the group”.

inov-8 CEO Gordon Baird added: “This alliance signals an exciting new phase in inov-8’s development following a number of years of sustained growth with our current investors, Livingbridge. The expertise and experience provided by Descente will enhance our ability to release the full potential of the brand. Both companies share a philosophy based on providing athletes with the most innovative and performance enhancing products, and a desire to develop this globally and sustainably.”

Descente brand skiwear is distributed in Europe and North America and year-round Descente sportswear is marketed in Japan and elsewhere in Asia by subsidiaries in Korea, China, Hong Kong and Singapore. Currently Descente has a portfolio of 16 in-house, purchased and licensed brands.

The business has enjoyed consistent double-digit growth operating in the off-road, performance training and road categories, operating in 62 countries across the globe.