This story originally appeared in our sister publication, RetailTouchPoints.
Guess has partnered with Authentic Brands Group to go private in a transaction that values the apparel brand at approximately $1.4 billion. Authentic, which owns 50+ global brands generating approximately $32 billion in annual revenues at retail, will acquire 51% of “substantially all” of the Guess intellectual property, while a group of “rolling stockholders” that includes co-founders Maurice and Paul Marciano as well as CEO Carlos Alberini will own the remaining 49% of the brand’s IP. Current Guess management will continue to run the business and own 100% of the operating company.
The remaining Guess shareholders will receive $16.76 per share in cash, higher than the $13 per share offered in March 2025 by WHP Global in a non-binding offer for the brand. In February 2024 Guess and WHP Global had teamed up to buy Rag & Bone.
“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, of course, owns nearly every large surf brand, including Quiksilver, Billabong, Roxy, Volcom and RVCA, in addition to myriad other brands.
Guess directly operates nearly 1,100 stores in Europe, the Americas and Asia, and its partners and distributors operated an additional 527 stores worldwide.
“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 co-founder and chief creative officer in a statement. “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.”
“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,” said Alberini in statement.
