Allbirds Sells Assets For $39 Million As Post-IPO Struggles Persist

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

March 31, 2026

Allbirds agreed to sell its assets to American Exchange Group for $39 million. The deal follows a decline in valuation after the company’s 2021 IPO. After its public debut, Allbirds reached a market valuation of about $4 billion. Recent market capitalization stood at $24.5 million based on closing prices.

Strategic Shift In A Tumultuous Journey

Following a $348 million IPO, Allbirds expanded into retail stores and new product categories, including apparel and performance footwear. The expansion increased costs and contributed to ongoing losses. Co-founder Tim Brown said the company’s rapid growth diluted its core brand positioning.

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Market Reaction And Future Outlook

Shares rose 36% in after-hours trading following the announcement. The $39 million deal value represents a premium to the company’s recent market capitalization. The transaction is subject to shareholder approval and is expected to close in the second quarter, with proceeds distributed in the third.

American Exchange Group’s Involvement

American Exchange Group will assume control of Allbirds’ assets and intellectual property, adding the brand to its portfolio, which includes Aerosoles and Jonathan Adler. The deal places Allbirds under a brand management model focused on operational oversight and commercial repositioning. The transition reflects a broader pattern in the retail sector, where underperforming consumer brands shift to management firms as they adjust to demand changes and cost pressures.

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Meta’s $18 Billion Settlement Limits State Claims Over Children’s Data

by News Editor

August 28, 2026

Meta’s $18 billion settlement with attorneys general from 29 U.S. states includes a provision limiting future state claims over the company’s use of children’s data for age-assurance systems.

Under the agreement, Meta must develop, train and begin testing a system to identify users under 13 within a year of the settlement taking effect. The company already uses AI-based age-detection tools, although the agreement does not require the new system to use AI.

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States Agree To Limits On Future Claims

The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) generally restricts the collection and retention of personal data from children under 13. Under the settlement, the 29 state attorneys general agreed not to bring past, present or future claims under COPPA or similar state laws over the specified use of children’s data.

Meta will not be permitted to use information from users under 13 for advertising, marketing or algorithmic optimisation.

Federal Enforcement Remains Unclear

COPPA is primarily enforced by the Federal Trade Commission, which is not a party to the agreement. That leaves open the possibility of separate federal action over how Meta collects or uses children’s data.

Another issue is whether Meta can keep age-assurance data isolated from its other systems. An independent auditor will monitor compliance, but the settlement does not fully specify what data Meta can retain for training, how long it can be stored or whether derived insights can be used elsewhere.

Legal Risks Remain

Joshua Wurtzel, a partner at Schlam Stone & Dolan, said states could still pursue claims if Meta uses the data outside the settlement’s limits. Such cases could depend on how those limits are interpreted.

Peter Jackson, a data and intellectual property attorney at Greenberg Glusker, said the provision could “disincentivize future enforcement actions.”

The agreement gives Meta greater legal certainty around using children’s data for age assurance, but questions remain over federal enforcement, data retention and secondary use.

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