Shimano announced on Thursday its decision to sell Pearl Izumi to United Sports Brands after nearly 15 years of ownership.
Shimano is best known for its fishing, rowing, and bicycle drivetrain componentry that can be found on bikes ranging from generic retail store models all the way up to pro-level builds.
Since 2008, Shimano has owned the Pearl Izumi brand, which features a wide variety of cycling apparel including bibs, jerseys, shoes, and accessories that meet the needs of cyclists from beginners to pros.
But this week, the brands announced an end to their relationship after more than a decade in business together.
Pearl Izumi, well-known for its road and mountain bike apparel, is headed for United Sports Brands (USB), which includes sports gear under the Shock Doctor, McDavid, Cutters, Nathan, and Glukos brands.
Geoff Shaffer, Pearl Izumi’s president, said that the shift from Shimano to USB marks an “exciting time” for the brand.
“We have tremendous momentum, and we have an amazing team that’s dedicated to continuing to grow the brand to new heights,” he said.
“Shimano has provided significant support and guidance throughout its ownership, and while we will miss being part of Team Shimano, we also know there is great future potential for the brand and look forward to continuing to grow our business with USB.”
Shimano is a publicly traded company that has seen significant growth in the past few years, punctuated by recent declines.
Toward the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the brand saw a jump in price from about $16 per share to a peak of more than $32 per share in September 2021. Since then, it has seen steady declines that, as of Thursday night, saw its price at $17.86.
Pearl Izumi says it’s still committed to offering its apparel through major North American retailers and smaller shops, which has long been a draw of the brand. You can really find it just about anywhere.
But for the time being, Pearl Izumi still will operate with Shimano support through a transition period to meet the needs of retailers and current business partners.
You can learn more about United Sports Brands at unistedspb.com.
