Boot makers
Australian footwear manufacturer founded by the Cloros family in 1989. Australian-owned until 2025, when US private equity firm Ares Management acquired a majority stake.
Company Ownership
Redback Boot Company Pty Ltd
AUS
Ares Management Corporation
owns 70% of Redback Boot Company Pty Ltd
USA
Asset management
Global alternative investment manager with almost US$600 billion of assets under management in 2025.
Company Assessment
(Last updated Dec 2025)
Praise
Criticism
Information
Redback Boot Company Pty Ltd
Praise
Criticism
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ethical clothing australia accreditation
Accredited and licensed to display the 'Ethical Clothing Australia' Trade Mark on their Australian-made garments, which ensures Australian workers receive fair wages and decent conditions. The majority of Redback Boots products are made in Australia and accredited by Ethical Clothing Australia.
4/5 for packaging performance
This company received a packaging performance level of 4 (Leading) in its 2025 APCO Annual Report. Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) is a not-for-profit organisation leading the development of a circular economy for packaging in Australia. Each year, APCO Members are required to submit an APCO Annual Report and Action Plan, which includes an overall performance level from 1 (Getting Started) to 5 (Beyond Best Practice).
Source: APCO
(2025)
Sales to military
Redback has been making boots for the Australian Defence Force since 1998, plus they supply the US military for its non-combat personnel.
Source: company website
(2025)
Ares Management Corporation
Praise
Criticism
Information
JUST Capital ranking
JUST Capital polls Americans every year to identify the issues that matter most in defining just business behaviour. For their 2025 rankings the public identified 17 issues, which are organised under the headings Workers, Communities, Customers, Shareholders and Environment. JUST Capital then define metrics that map to those issues and track and analyse the largest, publicly traded U.S. companies. This analysis powers their rankings, in which this company ranked 656th of 940 companies, and 27th of 39 Capital Markets companies.
Source: JUST Capital
(2025)
CEO Pay Ratio of 356:1
In 2024 the median pay for a worker at this company was US$240,000. The CEO was paid 356 times this amount. Exorbitant CEO pay is a major contributor to rising inequality. CEOs are getting more because of their power to set pay, not because they are increasing productivity or possess specific, high-demand skills. The economy would suffer no harm if CEOs were paid less (or taxed more). In contrast, the CEO-to-typical-worker compensation ratio was 20-to-1 in 1965 and 58-to-1 in 1989.
Source: AFL-CIO
(2024)
UN Principles for Responsible Investment signatory
UNPRI is a set of six principles direct institutional investors may adopt to consider environmental, social and corporate governance issues when investing. UNPRI is a voluntary agreement.
Source: UNPRI
(2025)
Company Details
Type:
Private company
Founded:
1989
Employees:
100+
Contact Details
Products / Brands
Redback Boots
Redback
Work Boots
★ some garments accredited with Ethical Clothing Australia