Private equity firms reportedly in discussions to purchase Birkenstock.
In a recent turn of events, the German footwear brand Birkenstock has been in the spotlight due to speculations of a potential acquisition. However, as of August 2025, no confirmed potential buyer has been reported.
Birkenstock Holding plc, the publicly listed company behind the brand, remains financially robust with a diverse product portfolio. The company primarily engages in the manufacture and sale of footwear products, including sandals, closed-toe footwear, skincare products, and accessories. Their products are sold through various channels worldwide, with over 95% of the manufacturing taking place at company-owned sites in Germany.
The brand, which was invented in Germany in 1774, enjoyed a heyday in the U.S. in the sixties. Long a bohemian favorite, Birkenstock has also gained popularity among fashionistas in recent years. The comfy leather sandal followed a trajectory also taken by L.L. Bean's iconic boot in recent years.
The industry should not plan for a major resurgence in fashion footwear, according to NPD's Future of Footwear report. The report indicates that the fashion category is projected to recoup less than half of the volume it lost in 2020. This trend is consistent with the 70% of consumers who plan to dress at least as casually than they did before the pandemic once they return to work and resume normal activities.
Despite the lack of confirmed acquisition news, Bloomberg reported on Monday that Birkenstock is in advanced talks to be sold for $4.8 billion to a European private equity firm. However, the report did not specify which European private equity firm is in talks to acquire Birkenstock. CVC Capital Partners, a private equity firm based in Europe, is one of the potential buyers, given their ownership of Swiss watch brand Breitling and German beauty retailer Douglas.
Interestingly, Birkenstock pulled sales from Amazon five years ago, citing counterfeit concerns. The brand opened its first company-owned U.S. store three years ago. Despite the speculations, Birkenstock declined to comment on the potential acquisition, and the potential buyer did not immediately return a request for comment regarding the sale.
As of now, the potential sale of the 250-year-old German footwear brand is still under discussion, and updates on the matter are expected to be announced in the near future. Monitoring industry sources will be crucial for any updates on the potential sale or any other rumored buyers.
- Despite the ongoing discussions for a potential acquisition, Birkenstock Holding plc, with its diversified product portfolio in footwear, skincare, and accessories, has maintained a financially robust position in the business industry.
- As the fashion industry reports a decline in the fashion footwear category due to the pandemic's impact on consumer dressing habits, artificial intelligence tools like NPD's Future of Footwear report can aid in predicting market trends and future investments.
- While various European private equity firms, such as CVC Capital Partners known for their investments in brands like Breitling and Douglas, are rumored to be potential buyers, any confirmed acquisition of the 250-year-old German footwear brand Birkenstock is yet to be announced.
