Marubeni Growth Capital US (MGCU), a consumer-focused growth equity investment platform in the US and a wholly owned subsidiary of Marubeni Corporation (Marubeni), has announced its inaugural investment with the acquisition of RG Barry Brands (RGB), a brand management platform developed to accelerate growth and innovation for lifestyle consumer brands, including Dearfoams, Baggallini, Columbus Product Group, and Planet A. This landmark acquisition catalyzes MGCU’s creation of a multi-brand platform as active investors and operating partners. The acquisition closed on June 4, 2024. As part of the transaction, Blackstone fully exited its ownership position in RGB and Mill Road Capital maintained a minority equity stake. MGCU was formed in 2023 under Marubeni’s Next Generation Corporate Development Division as an investment platform focused on investing in the consumer sector in the US.

Latham & Watkins LLP represented MGCU in the transaction with a corporate deal team led by New York partners Andrew Elken and Eyal Orgad, with associates Daniel Weissman, Alex Storozum, and Mack Weber. Advice was also provided on tax matters by New York partner Matthew Dewitz, with associate Rasha Suleiman; on compensation and benefits matters by New York partner Max Raskin, with associate Seokwon Lee; on labor matters by New York counsel Sandra Benjamin, with associates Jane Jeong and Sahar Merchant; on data privacy matters by Bay Area partner Robert Blamires, with associate Kiara Vaughn; on intellectual property matters by New York partner Jessica Cohen, with associate Zachary Shufro; on real estate matters by New York counsel Shira Bressler; on finance matters by New York partner Scott Ollivierre, with associates Sara Shahmiri and Katie Inglis; on environmental matters by New York counsel David Langer, with associate Brittany Curcuru; and on insurance matters by Los Angeles partners Drew Levin and Harrison White, with associate Aubrey Thompson.