Authentic Brands Group has acquired a majority stake in Guess' intellectual property for $16.75 per share, according to financial filings Friday. Existing Guess shareholders - Maurice Marciano, Paul Marciano, Nicolai Marciano and Carlos Alberini and various financial affiliates - now own 49% of the brand's IP. Guess' current management also now owns 100% of the operating company and will continue to run that business, maintaining operations in Switzerland.
The brand management crew - including leader Authentic Brands Group, WHP Global, Marquee Brands and Bluestar Alliance - have made their mark by focusing in, owning just the brand and working with broad networks of partners for everything else. It's an approach that only kept growing this year. Authentic is the largest player by far, with brands that drive some $32 billion in retail sales annually. With its deal to buy control of the Guess brand, that's slated to grow to $38 billion soon.
