A Deal to Remember: Fruition Acquires The Memory Company

Fruition Partners has acquired The Memory Company, a designer and distributor of licensed sports and branded consumer merchandise.

The Memory Company (TMC) specializes in the design, production, and distribution of licensed drinkware, home décor, and hard goods products that carry collegiate and professional sports branding.

The company’s product portfolio includes etched stemless wine glasses, ceramic steins, tumblers, and home décor pieces bearing logos and iconography from NCAA teams, the NFL, MLB, and even brands like Harley Davidson and Elvis Presley Enterprises. TMC’s products function both as functional drinkware and collectible display pieces for sports enthusiasts and brand loyalists. Many of TMC’s licensing relationships are long term, with an average length of more than 25 years.

TMC was founded in 1998 by CEO Charles Sizemore and is headquartered 80 miles east of Montgomery in Phenix City, Alabama. Mr. Sizemore is maintaining an equity interest in TMC in partnership with Fruition.

“Charles has built TMC as a high product quality company with broad, tenured retail relationships and a responsive supply chain,” said Mac Hampden, a partner and co-founder of Fruition Partners. “In concert with Charles, we have identified numerous actionable growth initiatives and potential add-ons with adjacent products, expansionary retail channels, and additional licenses. With the proliferation of online counterfeits and low-quality products, licensors are increasingly protective of their intellectual property and selective in which licensees with whom they partner. We look forward to further scaling the business by offering best-in-class products that solidify TMC’s competitive position as a consumer products licensee of choice.”

TMC operates within the licensed consumer products industry, where licensed sports merchandise is experiencing sustained demand driven by growing fan engagement, online sales, and exclusive retail programs. According to Grandview Research, the licensed sports merchandise market in the United States is expected to reach a projected revenue of $22.6 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 5.4% from 2025 to 2030.

Fruition Partners invests in lower middle-market companies that have EBITDA of $2 million to $20 million. Typical transactions include majority recapitalizations and minority growth investments with board representation. Denver-headquartered Fruition was founded in 2019 by former Lariat Partners professionals Jay Coughlon, Mac Hampden, and Jason Urband.

KeyBank was the sole lender for the transaction, providing senior secured credit facilities to fund the acquisition, support working capital, and cover transaction-related costs.

© 2025 Private Equity Professional | September 4, 2025