Guess, Inc. has agreed to be taken private by a group that includes its co-founders, CEO, and Authentic Brands in a deal valuing the apparel brand at $1.4 billion, including debt. With approximately $6 billion in global retail-equivalent sales, the denim brand will become Authentic’s second-largest brand after Reebok.
Under the transaction structure, Authentic will own a 51 percent stake in a newly formed entity that will own and license substantially all Guess’ intellectual property and assume the vast majority of the company’s product licensing agreements. The remaining 49 percent will be owned by Guess Co-founders Maurice and Paul Marciano and CEO Carlos Alberini.
Guess shareholders will receive $16.75 per share in cash, representing a 26 percent premium to the close on Tuesday, August 19.
The Guess operating entity and its subsidiaries will be taken private and be wholly owned by the current management team. The operating company will continue under its existing leadership and structure.
The addition will bring Authentic’s portfolio-wide annual retail sales to $38 billion globally.
“Guess is a powerhouse brand that has defined style and culture for over 40 years,” said Jamie Salter, founder, chairman and CEO of Authentic. “We have tremendous respect for the Marcianos and their team, who have built an innovative, heritage-rich brand with incredible global reach and an established ecosystem of partners. We are excited to build on this legacy in partnership with them as Guess enters its next chapter within our platform.”
Authentic plans to leverage its global brand platform and partner network to expand Guess into new categories and territories, while reactivating its legendary archives. This strategic move strengthens Authentic’s presence in Europe, leverages Guess’s established brick-and-mortar network and supports cross-portfolio growth.
“Guess’ international scale and market strength create a runway to accelerate Authentic’s growth around the world,” said Matt Maddox, president of Authentic. “This acquisition expands our presence in existing markets, opens doors to new ones and builds on a brand platform with a proven record of success.”
Guess had received a $13-per-share take-private offer from brand management firm WHP Global in March. It had then formed a special committee to evaluate the proposal.
“Today’s announcement is the result of a thoughtful and independent review by the Special Committee of the Guess Board of Directors to maximize value for Guess shareholders,” said Alex Yemenidjian, chairman of the Guess Board of Directors and Chairman of the Special Committee. “With the assistance of financial and legal advisors, the Special Committee evaluated a number of potential options and unanimously determined that the transaction with Authentic and the Rolling Stockholders is the best path forward for Guess, providing Guess shareholders with immediate and certain cash value at a compelling premium.”
“Over our 44-year history, Guess has established itself as a global leader in the fashion industry, and today marks another significant milestone on our journey,” said Paul Marciano. “Guess has always worked to create a strong network of licensing partners and joining forces with Authentic – the world’s second largest licensor with a powerful lifestyle and entertainment platform, will enable us to build on this foundation and expand our reach as a global lifestyle brand. Guess’ incredible legacy is a direct result of our unparalleled understanding of our customers and commitment to creating innovative and iconic designs that stand the test of time. I am grateful to our world-class team members and partners and look forward to continuing to work closely with Carlos and our talented leaders in this new chapter.”
“Through this transaction, we look forward to building on the significant progress we have made to strengthen our organization, improve brand awareness and elevate customer engagement,” said Guess CEO Carlos Alberini. “As a private company benefiting from the perspectives of a globally recognized licensing partner, Guess will have enhanced flexibility to navigate today’s complex operating environment and execute on a more targeted, long-term strategy, enabling us to even better serve customers around the world. I want to thank the Special Committee for their diligent work to determine the best value creation opportunity for our shareholders, as well as express my gratitude to Paul for his decades of visionary leadership and continued partnership on the road ahead.”
Founded in 1981 with headquarters in Lugano, Switzerland, and Los Angeles, CA, Guess operates in approximately 100 countries through a retail and licensing network, including 1,600 stores globally, of which over 1,000 are directly managed.
The transaction is subject to customary regulatory and other closing conditions, including approval by the holders of a majority of Guess’ outstanding common stock and a majority of the votes cast by unaffiliated stockholders of Guess. It is expected to close in the fourth quarter of Guess’ 2026 fiscal year.
Authentic’s other brands include Shaquille O’Neal, David Beckham, Reebok, Champion, Nautica, Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, Sports Illustrated, Eddie Bauer, Aéropostale, Lucky Brand, Nine West, Brooks Brothers, Juicy Couture, Vince Camuto, Dockers, Quiksilver, Billabong, Sperry, Hunter, and Ted Baker. Through its joint venture with Saks Global, Authentic Luxury Group (ALG) drives growth for luxury and accessible luxury brands, including Barneys New York, Judith Leiber, Hervé Léger, Vince, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Saks OFF 5TH.
Image courtesy Guess
