United Sports Brands has acquired Pearl Izumi USA, the manufacturer of cycling apparel and accessories. Pearl Izumi will join USB’s portfolio of protective and performance sports equipment sold under the Shock Doctor, McDavid, Cutters, Nathan and Glukos brands. Terms were not disclosed.

Pearl Izumi was founded in Tokyo in 1950 and entered the U.S. market during the 1980s cycling boom. In 1989, four investors in Boulder, CO, bought the rights to build a U.S.-based Pearl Izumi brand, leveraging technology and fabrics from the original company in Japan. Since then, the brand has grown to be widely distributed across Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In 2008, Pearl Izumi was acquired by Shimano, the Japanese manufacturer of cycling components, fishing tackle and rowing equipment. 

“We are very pleased to welcome Pearl Izumi into the United Sports Brands family,” says USB CEO Michael Magerman. “Pearl Izumi is an iconic, authentic and much-loved brand that is strongly aligned with our current portfolio of brands at USB. “The addition of Pearl Izumi, along with our running apparel and accessory company, Nathan, makes us a formidable player in the outdoor space. We see great opportunity for continued organic growth and expansion in this segment of the market.”

Pearl Izumi will operate with the support of Shimano for a transition period to meet the needs of retailers and maintain the business as planned.