Levi Strauss Sells Dockers Brand to Authentic Brands Group in $311 Million Deal

Levi Strauss & Co. (LEVI) said on Tuesday that it has agreed to sell the Dockers brand to Authentic Brands Group, a firm that specializes in acquiring and licensing brands around the world.

The deal comes with an initial payment of $311 million for the Dockers brand, with another $80 million in potential payments based on Dockers’ sales performance under Authentic’s ownership, the companies said Tuesday. Authentic owns a number of popular apparel brands like Reebok, Champion, and Eddie Bauer.

Levi Strauss said when it issued its third-quarter earnings report in October that it had launched a review of its options for the Dockers brand, which could include a sale, as sales have been declining for the label known for its khaki pants.

Levi’s CEO ‘Confident That We Maximized the Value’ of Dockers

“The Dockers transaction further aligns our portfolio with our strategic priorities, focusing on our direct-to-consumer (DTC) first approach, growing our international presence and investing in opportunities across women’s and denim lifestyle,” Levi Strauss CEO Michelle Gass said. “After a robust process, we are confident that we maximized the value of the business and that Authentic is the right organization to usher in the next chapter of growth for the Dockers brand.”

Authentic CEO Jamie Salter called Dockers a “natural fit for the Authentic model,” citing the brand’s “deep roots, high awareness and a solid foundation in licensing.” Along with the acquisition, Authentic announced a licensing deal with Centric Brands, which will operate key segments of Dockers’ business in the U.S. and Canada.

The U.S. and Canada portion of the deal is expected to close by the end of July, with the rest of the Dockers deal set to close by the end of January 2026, Levi Strauss said.

Levi Strauss shares were up more than 2% in Tuesday morning trading, putting them up nearly 5% for the year.