Patient, flexible capital paired with brand building expertise, backed by global infrastructure.
Consumer investors and operators that walk the walk
Collaborative partnership that extends beyond the boardroom to solving key operational issues and unlocking durable omnichannel growth.
Long-term, flexible capital
Dedicated balance sheet capital from Marubeni and a long-term approach to value creation eliminates shortsighted decision making and facilitates more effective capital allocation. Flexibility to structure investments creatively for the benefit of all parties and to maximize alignment with shareholders and founders.
Global infrastructure
Portfolio companies will continue to operate with full autonomy, but may benefit from the backing of a global parent company with worldwide operations across industries. We enable our portfolio companies’ to leverage Marubeni’s capabilities where it makes sense, without the corporate overhead.
Team
Decades of experience investing in, building and operating brands of all sizes and stages.
Taylor Rettig
Senior Managing Director
Taylor Rettig
Senior Managing Director
Before launching MGCU with Marubeni, Taylor most recently served as COO of Atlas Crest Investment Corp, a $500 million SPAC led by Ken Moelis that completed a combination with Archer Aviation. Prior to that, he was CEO of Draper James, a lifestyle brand founded by Reese Witherspoon, from 2017-2020. Taylor spent over 13 years of his career with JH Partners, a San Francisco based investment firm, where he was a Partner and led investments across apparel/accessories, personal care and media, including J. McLaughlin (acquired by Brentwood Associates), Kate Somerville (acquired by Unilever), Greats (acquired by Steve Madden) and Figs (IPO). After leading an investment in Alex and Ani, a trend jewelry brand, in 2012, Taylor served as Chief Strategy Officer through its $1 billion exit. Taylor began his career at Morgan Joseph & Co. after receiving a BA in Politics from Princeton University.
Conor Murdoch
Senior Vice President
Conor Murdoch
Senior Vice President
Conor joined MGCU at its creation in 2023. Prior to MGCU, Conor was an Investment Director at OpCapita, a London-based consumer & retail buyout firm, where he opened the US office and led the firm’s North American effort from 2019-2023. He was responsible for all aspects of the firm’s investment in Maurices, a $1.1B 900-store women’s apparel brand, and led the firm’s most investment in a 400-unit, family-owned QSR franchisee, operating KFC, Taco Bell, Starbucks and Burger King restaurants across Canada and the UK. Prior to OpCapita, Conor was an early member of the team at Care/of, then a seed-stage wellness brand, where he led a variety of functions. Conor began his career as an analyst at Deutsche Bank and subsequently as an associate at Rhône Group, a transatlantic middle market private equity firm. Conor has a BS in Economics from Duke University and an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management.
Mandy Epstein
Senior Associate
Mandy Epstein
Senior Associate
Mandy joined MGCU in 2023. Most recently she was an Investment Banking Associate at Evercore in the Consumer and Retail group, where she advised clients across the consumer sector on engagements including Foot Locker’s acquisitions of WSS and atmos, Post Holding’s acquisition of select pet food brands from J.M. Smucker, and SunOpta’s sale of its frozen fruit business. Mandy began her career in the deal advisory group at PwC, where she supported management teams through various integration and divestiture activities. Mandy has a BA in Psychology with a minor in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management.
Dan Welt
Sr. Operating Officer for Marubeni NextGen Corp Development
Dan Welt
Sr. Operating Officer for Marubeni NextGen Corp Development
Dan joined Marubeni in 2007 in its Power Division, where he held various roles over the years, including SVP covering merchant independent power projects and regulated utility investments. Dan led investments in St Charles Energy Center and West Deptford Energy Station and was in charge of Marubeni’s investment in InfraREIT, a REIT that developed, owned and operated utility assets in Texas and had a successful IPO prior to being acquired by Oncor Energy Delivery Company. Prior to working for Marubeni, Dan was a Project Finance credit analyst at S&P Ratings Services and an analyst at Mark Asset Management. Dan serves on the Boards of Directors of Sannpa Ltd (parent of Fnatic) and MGCU and has served on Boards of various Marubeni portfolio companies. Dan has a BA in Modern Culture and Media from Brown University, an MA in Literature from Duke University, and an MBA/MIA from Columbia University.
Jake Lulley
Controller
Jake Lulley
Controller
[TBD]
Kellie Anne Bates
Office Manager
Kellie Anne Bates
Office Manager
[TBD]
Our Portfolio
Columbus Product Group
Private-label industry leader crafting exceptional private label solutions for customers. Acquired as part of the RGB portfolio.
Baggallini
Functional, conventional bags and accessories for the modern woman. Acquired as part of the RGB portfolio.
RG Barry Brands
RG Barry Brands owns and operates a collection of footwear and accessories omnichannel brands. Acquired June 2024.
Dearfoams
Popular US comfort footwear brand, known for the invention of the house slipper in 1947. Acquired as part of the RGB portfolio.
Planet A
Regenerative lifestyle brand producing quality biodegradable products made with our planet in mind and supported with proprietary REGNR8 technology. Acquired as part of the RGB portfolio.
Announcements
Marubeni Growth Capital US Makes Inaugural Investment, Acquiring RG Barry Brands
Marubeni Growth Capital US Makes Inaugural Investment, Acquiring RG Barry Brands 2