Guess partners with Authentic Brands to go private
Guess Inc. is transitioning away from being a public company.
The apparel and accessories brand has signed a definitive agreement for a group of Guess shareholders known collectively, the "Rolling Stockholders," including Maurice Marciano, Paul Marciano, Nicolai Marciano, and Carlos Alberini and certain of their respective trusts, foundations and affiliates, to enter into a strategic partnership with Authentic Brands Group that will turn the company private.
In connection with the take-private transaction, Authentic will acquire 51% of Guess intellectual property, after which all the outstanding common stock of Guess not already owned by the Rolling Stockholders will be acquired in an all-cash transaction that values Guess at approximately $1.4 billion, including debt.
The Rolling Stockholders will own 49% of all Guess intellectual property, and current Guess management will continue to run the business and own 100% of the operating company.
Under the terms of the agreement, Guess shareholders other than the Rolling Stockholders will receive $16.75 per share in cash, representing a premium of approximately 73% to Guess’s closing common stock price on March 14, 2025, the last trading day prior to Guess’s press release announcing its receipt of a non-binding acquisition proposal from WHP Global.
[READ MORE: Guess gets buyout offer from WHP Global]
"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. "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."
The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of Guess’s 2026 fiscal year, subject to regulatory and other customary conditions, including approval by the holders of a majority of Guess’s outstanding common stock and a majority of the votes cast by the unaffiliated stockholders of Guess.
The Guess board of directors, with Paul Marciano and Carlos Alberini recusing themselves, unanimously approved the proposed transaction. The transaction will be financed through a combination of rollover equity by the Rolling Stockholders and cash commitments by Authentic.
“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 are excited to build on this legacy in partnership with them as Guess enters its next chapter within our platform."
Guess expects to pay a quarterly cash dividend of $0.225 cents per share through the closing of the transaction. Upon completion of the transaction, Guess’s common stock will no longer be listed on any public market.
As of May 3, 2025, Guess directly operated 1,074 retail stores in Europe, the Americas and Asia. Guess’s partners and distributors operated 527 additional retail stores worldwide and operated in approximately 100 countries worldwide.
