Intrepid Investment Bankers, a leading middle-market investment bank and the advisory arm of MUFG, a global financial group, announced today that it served as the exclusive financial advisor to The GLD Shop (“GLD”) on its sale to MarcyPen Capital Partners (“MarcyPen”), a next generation investment platform that provides strategic capital to early and growth stage consumer businesses that create, move, and lead culture. MarcyPen is joined by Brand Velocity Group (“BVG”), whose innovative approach to private equity blends financial and operating expertise alongside non-traditional value-add resources in the areas of marketing, business development, company culture, and talent management.
A Digitally Native Brand at the Heart of Youth Culture
Founded in 2015 by Christian Johnston, GLD has become a cultural force in the digitally native accessories space—offering high-quality, trend-forward jewelry that blends luxury aesthetics with street-level accessibility. Originally rooted in hip-hop and sports, the brand has evolved into a broader expression of youth identity across music, fashion, fitness, gaming, and pop culture.
GLD’s customer base, the self-styled #GLDGang, is a passionate community of fans and tastemakers drawn to the brand’s designs, collaborations, and cultural presence. The brand’s designs are regularly worn by cultural leaders including Cardi B, Micah Parsons, Tyreek Hill, and Tasha Cloud.
The brand has also built strong collaborations with artists and athletes like Fivio Foreign and Malik Nabers, maintains official licensing partnerships with the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, WNBA, and NCAA, and serves as a key partner for events like Rolling Loud and the Super Bowl.
Since H.I.G. Growth Partners’ investment in 2021 (the dedicated growth capital investment affiliate of H.I.G. Capital), GLD has built a best-in-class management team, elevated its marketing engine, expanded its product assortment, and strengthened its passionate online community.
A Formidable New Partnership for the Next Chapter
In partnership with its new investors MarcyPen and BVG, GLD is poised to for its next chapter of growth, which will include enhancing its direct-to-consumer channel, launching wholesale, further building out its team, and investing in new marketing initiatives.
“Intrepid’s guidance was invaluable throughout this process. They understood our edge, our ambition, and the type of partner we needed to keep building something culturally real and commercially massive,” said David Reinke, CEO of GLD.
"MarcyPen and BVG share our long-term vision. They see where this brand is headed, not just as a business, but as a cultural force and a global brand. Their belief in GLD and their deep understanding of what drives consumer behavior make them the perfect partners for this next chapter," added Christian Johnston, Founder and President of GLD.
Why This Deal Matters
“We’re seeing significant investor interest in brands that help people express their unique identity, especially among Gen Z and Gen Alpha consumers who deeply value individualism,” said Kyle Kearney, Director at Intrepid. “GLD gives its customers the freedom to show the world who they are, whether bold and loud, or refined and timeless. That kind of emotional connection is rare.”
Kearney continued, “As e-commerce continues to reshape how consumers discover and engage with brands, those that feel authentic, community-led, and culture-first are the ones that will win. GLD has proven itself a key tastemaker in youth culture and with this new partnership, it’s ready to go global.”