Guess? (NYSE: GES) sold for $16.75 per share and set to delist
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Guess?, Inc. has completed its merger with affiliates of Authentic Brands Group and Glow Holdco 1, Inc., making Guess? a wholly-owned subsidiary of Glow Holdco and ending its status as a publicly traded company. Each outstanding share of common stock (other than specified Excluded Shares and validly perfected appraisal shares) was converted into the right to receive
The merger triggered change-of-control provisions in Guess?’s
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Insights
Guess? closes go-private merger at $16.75 per share and restructures debt and listings.
The transaction transfers Guess? from public shareholders to private ownership under Glow Holdco 1, Inc., with intellectual property entities now
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The company is also unwinding related hedge and warrant structures, with counterparties paying about
FAQ
What happened to Guess? Inc. (GES) in this 8-K filing?
Guess? Inc. completed a merger with Glow Merger Sub 1, Inc., making Guess? a wholly-owned subsidiary of Glow Holdco 1, Inc. and ending its status as a public company. The deal is part of a broader transaction with Authentic Brands Group and Rolling Stockholders that also reorganizes ownership of Guess?’s intellectual property subsidiaries.
What cash consideration do Guess? (GES) shareholders receive in the merger?
Each Guess? common share issued and outstanding immediately before the effective time, other than defined Excluded Shares and properly perfected appraisal shares, was converted into the right to receive $16.75 in cash per share, without interest. Certain shares held by Authentic, its affiliates, the company, subsidiaries and specified Rolling Stockholders were cancelled with no payment.
How did the merger affect Guess? (GES) 3.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2028?
The merger constituted a Fundamental Change, a Make-Whole Fundamental Change and a Common Stock Change Event under the indenture governing the 3.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2028, of which $351,947,000 principal was outstanding on the closing date. Until 5:00 p.m. New York City time on February 20, 2026, noteholders may require Guess? to purchase their notes at 100% of principal plus accrued interest or convert them during this period for cash equal to $768.3761 per $1,000 principal.
What NYSE listing and SEC reporting changes are disclosed for Guess? (GES)?
In connection with the merger closing, Guess? notified the NYSE of its intent to remove its common stock from listing and requested that trading be suspended before the market opened on January 23, 2026. The NYSE is expected to file Form 25 to delist the shares and deregister them under Section 12(b). After that becomes effective, Guess? intends to file Form 15 to terminate registration of the shares and suspend its reporting obligations under Sections 12(g) and 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
How were Guess? (GES) equity incentive and employee stock purchase plans treated?
Effective as of the merger closing, Guess?’s Equity Incentive Plan terminated, except to the limited extent needed to administer the agreed treatment of outstanding stock options, RSUs, PSUs and RSAs under the merger terms. The 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan also terminated at the effective time, with the surviving corporation obligated to refund, without interest, funds credited to participants’ ESPP payroll withholding accounts as of the closing date.
What changes occurred in Guess? (GES) governance and organizational documents?
At the merger effective time, all Guess? directors then in office resigned, and the directors of Merger Sub became directors of the surviving corporation, while the existing officers continued in their roles. The certificate of incorporation of the surviving corporation was amended and restated, and Merger Sub’s bylaws (with the name updated) became the bylaws of the surviving corporation, as required by the merger agreement.
What hedge and warrant transactions related to Guess? (GES) notes are being terminated?
In connection with the merger, Guess? and certain option counterparties agreed to terminate outstanding convertible note hedge and warrant transactions that had been entered into when the notes were issued. Under these terminations, option counterparties must pay Guess? approximately $33,000,000, and Guess? must pay them approximately $16,000,000, after which the related hedge and warrant transactions will be fully terminated.