R.M.Williams is currently owned by Tattarang , the private investment group of Australian billionaire Andrew Forrest and his wife Nicola Forrest.

Who owns R.M.Williams now?

  • R.M.Williams was acquired in October 2020 by Tattarang, Andrew and Nicola Forrestā€™s private investment company, bringing the iconic bootmaker back into Australian ownership.
  • Before this, the majority owner was global private equity firm L Catterton, alongside minority investors IFM Investors and actor Hugh Jackman.

Quick history of ownership

  • Founded in 1932 by Reginald Murray Williams in South Australia, the brand remained closely linked to its founder until it was first sold in 1988.
  • Over the years, ownership has passed through Bennett & Fisher, the Cowley family (with Kerry Stokes as a partner for a period), then to L Capital/L Catterton and partners, before the Forrest familyā€™s Tattarang purchase in 2020.

Why this is ā€œtrendingā€ lately

  • The return to Australian ownership in 2020 was widely discussed in news and forums as a symbolic ā€œhomecomingā€ for an outback heritage brand.
  • R.M.Williams continues to be marketed as a proudly Australian-owned maker of premium boots and leather goods, which is often highlighted in recent articles and retailer writeā€‘ups.

Fast facts (scan-friendly)

  • Current owner: Tattarang (Andrew & Nicola Forrest).
  • Ownership change: Acquired from L Catterton and partners in 2020.
  • Brand origin: Founded 1932, South Australian outback.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.