Centric Brands CEO Jason Rabin Buys Majority Stake in Buyout

Centric Brands CEO Jason Rabin has acquired a majority ownership stake in the company through a management-led buyout, keeping the top job and installing a new investor group that includes Axar Capital Management, M-Cor Capital, MSP Sports Capital, and Centric Brands Group President Jarrod Kahn.

The deal changes who owns the licensing giant — but not who runs it. Rabin remains CEO and retains responsibility for strategy and international expansion, working with the existing management team. He has led the company since founding it in October 2018.

What does the buyout actually change?

Ownership, board composition, and the direction of future capital. Marc Schneider departs as Chairperson of Centric's Board after five years. "It has been a pleasure and an honor to work alongside Jason, Jarrod, and the entire Centric team over the last five years," Schneider said. "The way they engage with their retail partners, licensors, suppliers, and employees is truly best-in-class in this industry."

The announcement did not disclose the purchase price, the size of Rabin's majority position, or the valuation placed on the company. Those omissions matter: without deal terms, the market cannot judge whether investors are buying growth or buying time.

Jefferies served as exclusive financial advisor to management. Pryor Cashman provided legal counsel. Separate legal advisors represented Axar, M-Cor, MSP Sports Capital, and the seller group — a structure typical of multi-party transactions.

How big is the platform?

Centric manages more than 100 licensed and owned brands across apparel, accessories, beauty, and lifestyle categories. The portfolio spans Calvin Klein, Coach, Dockers, Faherty, Favorite Daughter, Gap, Joe's Jeans, Michael Kors, Off-White, Quiksilver, Tommy Hilfiger, UGG, and Under Armour. It also licenses entertainment properties from Disney, Marvel, Paramount, and Universal.

The operation behind those licenses is substantial:

• More than 2,600 employees across 26 offices in North America, Europe, and Asia
• 18 offices in eight Asian countries
• Over $25 million invested in global sourcing capabilities
• Roughly 2.7 million square feet of distribution space in California and New Jersey

For scale, 2.7 million square feet is close to 47 American football fields of warehouse capacity. Centric says these investments improve production efficiency, logistics coordination, and service for retail and licensing partners.

The company is also rolling out Centric IQ, an internal AI platform, across its international teams to strengthen operational processes and improve how the business uses information. No timeline or budget for that deployment was disclosed.

Why did these specific investors come in?

Each brings a different playbook. MSP Sports Capital specializes in investments in sports teams, leagues, and related companies — a fit, the company says, with Centric's sports and lifestyle brand activities. Axar Capital Management focuses on opportunistic credit and special situations in middle-market businesses. M-Cor Capital rounds out the group.

Jeff Moorad, CEO of MSP Sports Capital, framed the bet in operational terms. "We look for exceptional leadership teams with the infrastructure to win over the long term, and Centric has both," Moorad said. "Jason and the Centric team have built a platform with the scale, strategy, and operating discipline to keep growing across brands, categories, and markets."

Moorad added: "We are proud to join them as partners, particularly as the company continues to grow on the sports side."

Rabin, for his part, promised continuity with ambition. "I'm excited to work with a new investor group to lead the company into its next phase," he said. "We'll continue expanding our brand portfolio, deepening our global operational capabilities, and delivering for our retail and licensing partners."

Kahn, Group President of Accessories since 2018 with more than three decades in the industry, echoed that tone: "I'm looking forward to continuing to work with Jason as we drive towards his long-term global vision. We are incredibly optimistic about the future of Centric Brands."

Where does growth come from next?

Centric's strategy rests on three platforms. Centric Powered sells services — brand development, design, manufacturing, distribution, operational support, brand protection — to brand owners who want infrastructure without building it themselves. Centric Ventures partners with founders, giving them financial and operational backing while they keep creative control. Centric Collective acquires and manages brand intellectual property for long-term value.

Together the three platforms let Centric participate in licensing, operational partnerships, and direct ownership. The company says the new ownership structure will support expansion into additional brands, products, and categories.

The buyout follows a period of expansion across Centric's brand portfolio, sourcing infrastructure, and global operations — though the company did not attach revenue or profit figures to that growth. With Rabin now holding the majority stake, expect the pace of brand acquisitions and international pushes to accelerate; whether the undisclosed financing behind the deal supports that ambition remains the open question.

In plain terms: same CEO, new money, and a sports-focused investor signaling where the next deals may land.