WHP Global and G-III Apparel Group Complete Acquisition of Marc Jacobs
Rhea-AI Summary
G-III Apparel Group (NasdaqGS: GIII) and WHP Global closed the acquisition of the Marc Jacobs brand from LVMH on September 1, 2026. Concurrently, the parties formed a 50/50 joint venture to co-own the Marc Jacobs intellectual property and drive global brand expansion. At closing, G-III acquired the Marc Jacobs operating business and entered into a long-term license with the JV.
Under the structure, WHP Global leads the JV and oversees global brand licensing, while G-III owns and operates wholesale, retail and e-commerce and provides support services to the JV. Marc Jacobs remains Founder and Creative Director. Advisors included Morgan Stanley and UBS as financial advisors and multiple law firms, with Morgan Stanley Senior Funding providing debt financing to support the transaction.
Positive
- Completed acquisition of Marc Jacobs brand and operating business
- Established 50/50 joint venture with WHP Global for Marc Jacobs IP
- Long-term license agreement secures G-III’s operating role with the brand
- Marc Jacobs remains Founder and Creative Director, supporting creative continuity
- Access to WHP Global’s portfolio of 16+ brands and $9.5B retail network
Negative
- Acquisition supported by debt financing, increasing G-III’s financial obligations
Key Figures
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 26 | Earnings date notice | Neutral | +0.7% | Scheduled second-quarter fiscal 2027 results and investor conference call for September 2. |
| Aug 20 | Dividend declaration | Positive | -2.7% | Board declared a $0.10 quarterly cash dividend payable September 29. |
| Jun 05 | Earnings report | Positive | +5.2% | First-quarter results included raised fiscal 2027 earnings guidance and Marc Jacobs acquisition plans. |
| May 28 | Earnings date notice | Neutral | +2.0% | Scheduled first-quarter fiscal 2027 results and investor conference call for June 5. |
| May 27 | Dividend declaration | Positive | +1.9% | Board declared a $0.10 quarterly cash dividend payable July 8. |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
GIII's recent reactions were mixed: the substantive earnings release aligned positively, while dividend and scheduling announcements produced both positive and negative moves.
Key Terms
joint venture financial
intellectual property technical
equity stake financial
long-term license financial
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
NEW YORK, Sept. 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHP Global and G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. (NasdaqGS: GIII) today announced the closing of the acquisition of the Marc Jacobs brand from LVMH. Concurrently, WHP Global and G-III formed their previously announced joint venture (“JV”) to co-own the Marc Jacobs intellectual property and accelerate the global growth of one of fashion’s most influential brands. At closing, G-III also acquired the Marc Jacobs operating business and entered into a long-term license with the JV.
The new JV is co-owned by WHP Global and G-III, with each party owning a
“Marc Jacobs is a defining name in fashion, with powerful cultural relevance and global growth potential,” said Yehuda Shmidman, Founder, Chairman and CEO of WHP Global. “We want to thank LVMH for its stewardship of this brand over nearly three decades and for being a trusted partner throughout this process. Together with G-III, we have created a powerful platform that combines best-in-class brand management with exceptional operating expertise.”
“This closing marks an exciting new chapter for Marc Jacobs, a brand with a distinctive creative legacy and global reach,” said Morris Goldfarb, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of G-III Apparel Group. “G-III brings the scale and expertise to build and grow global brands, and we look forward to working with the Marc Jacobs team and WHP Global to protect what makes the brand special while supporting its continued growth worldwide.”
Advisors
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC served as financial advisor to WHP Global and Gibson Dunn served as legal advisor. Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc. provided debt financing to support the acquisition.
UBS served as financial advisor to G-III, and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison served as legal advisor.
Barack Ferrazzano served as legal advisor to LVMH.
ABOUT MARC JACOBS
Marc Jacobs created Marc Jacobs International with Robert Duffy in 1984, basing the brand on two very simple concepts: a love of fashion and a commitment to quality. Finding the perfect balance between tradition and innovation, highlighting Jacobs’ exuberant creativity, the brand has become a driving force in the industry. Part of a generation that’s conscious of the world around it, sensitive to humanitarianism and social entrepreneurship, Marc Jacobs has made its mark as rebellious, unpredictable, original, unique, and authentic all at the same time. Committed to the communities around them, Marc Jacobs International leads by example, supporting over 75 charities and organizations around the world.
ABOUT WHP GLOBAL
WHP Global (www.whp-global.com) is a leading brand management platform founded in 2019 to acquire and grow consumer brands. Its portfolio includes 16+ powerful brands across fashion, sports, and hardgoods, generating over
ABOUT G-III APPAREL GROUP, LTD.
G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. is a global fashion leader with expertise in design, sourcing, distribution, and marketing. The Company owns and licenses a portfolio of more than 30 preeminent brands, each differentiated by unique brand propositions, product categories, and consumer touchpoints. G-III owns ten iconic brands, including Marc Jacobs, DKNY, Donna Karan, Karl Lagerfeld, Sonia Rykiel, and Vilebrequin, and licenses over 20 of the most sought-after names in global fashion, including Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Levi’s, Halston, Champion, Converse, Cole Haan, BCBG, French Connection, Starter, as well as major sports leagues such as the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB, among others.
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Statements that are not historical or current facts, including statements about beliefs and expectations, are “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined under the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and factors which include, but are not limited to, risks relating to the ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the acquisition of the Marc Jacobs business; risks relating to significant costs related to the acquisition; the expected financial and operating performance and future opportunities following the consummation of the acquisition; risks relating to the reliance on licensed product; reliance on foreign manufacturers; risk of doing business abroad; the current economic and credit environment risks; the nature of the apparel industry, including changing customer demand and tastes; risks of operating a retail business; customer concentration; seasonality; customer acceptance of new products; the impact of competitive products and pricing; dependence on existing management; and possible disruption from acquisitions, as well as other risks detailed in G-III's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. G-III assumes no obligation to update the information in this press release.
Contacts
WHP Global
Jaime Cassavechia
jcassavechia@whp-global.com
646-701-7041
G-III Apparel Group
Nick Bacchus
SVP of Investor Relations and Treasurer
IR@g-iii.com
Lauren McClain
Corporate Communications
GIIICommunications@g-iii.com
LVMH
Analysts and investors: Rodolphe Ozun – +33 1 44 13 27 21
Media: Jean-Charles Tréhan – press@lvmh.com – +33 1 44 13 26 20
