is a public Japanese multinational retail holding company. In addition to its primary subsidiary Uniqlo, it owns several other brands, including J Brand, Comptoir des Cotonniers, GU, Princesse Tam-Tam, and Theory. History The company was founded as Men's Shop Ogori Shoji in 1949, and formally incorporated as Ogōri Shōji Co., Ltd. in 1963 by Hitoshi Yanai. In 1984, the company, which ran a menswear store in Ube, Yamaguchi, opened a new casual-wear store named Unique Clothing Warehouse in Hiroshima City; this was the forebear of Uniqlo. In September 1991, Ogori Shoji changed its name to Fast Retailing Co., Ltd., and was listed on the Hiroshima Stock Exchange in July 1994. In February 1999, it was listed on the first section (large companies) of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The company also owns the American brand Theory; Fast Retailing acquired "an equity stake in Link Theory Holdings Co Ltd, the marketer of the Theory and Helmut Lang apparel brands, in 2004". It acquired the rest of the company in 2009. In 2007, it unsuccessfully offered a bid of US$900 million for Barneys New York department store to the Jones Apparel Group. In 2012, the company purchased an 80% stake of premium denim company J Brand for US$290 million and US$10 million in advisory legal fees. Senior leadership Chairman Hitoshi Yanai (1963–1984) Tadashi Yanai (1984–present) CEO Hitoshi Yanai (1963–1984) Tadashi Yanai (1984–present) President Hitoshi Yanai (1963–1984) Tadashi Yanai (1984–2002) Genichi Tamatsuka (2002–2005) Tadashi Yanai (2005–present); second term References External links English page Japanese page Clothing retailers of Japan Companies based in Yamaguchi Prefecture Retail companies established in 1963 Holding companies of Japan Companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Companies listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange Japanese companies established in 1963 Holding companies established in 1963