Acquisition by Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. of Shares in Dunlop Brands Limited, et al.
and Assets Owned by Dunlop Sports Group Americas, Inc.
ABSTRACT:
Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. (“SRI”), a global tire, sports goods, and industrial rubber products manufacturing company based in Kobe (Japan), plans to acquire the Dunlop-related wholesale, manufacturing, and licensing business from Sports Direct International plc (“SDI”), a UK-based retailer, through the acquisition of the entire issued share capital of Dunlop Brands Limited, Dunlop Slazenger 1902 Limited, and Dunlop Australia Limited, and the Dunlop-related business of Dunlop Sports Group Americas, Inc. which are subsidiaries of SDI. SRI already manufactures and sells under the Dunlop brand (i) tires in many countries including Japan, and (ii) sports goods in Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea. The acquisition allows SRI to consolidate the Dunlop brand across various products including sports goods worldwide.