Authentic Brands Takes Guess Private As Group Maintains Growth
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Authentic Brands continues with an asset-light model, acquiring contorl of Guess. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for GUESS) Getty Images for GUESS Authentic Brands Group and fashion retailer Guess have completed a transaction that takes the label private, marking the latest move by the acquisitive brand management group to deepen its control over established consumer names. Under the new ownership structure, Authentic holds a 51% stake in Guess’s intellectual property, while existing shareholders retain the remaining 49%. The group of continuing shareholders includes Guess co-founders Maurice and Paul Marciano, Nicolai Marciano and chief executive Carlos Alberini. Guess management now owns all of the operating company and will continue to run the business, while Authentic’s involvement centers on brand strategy, licensing and long-term development. Guess will maintain its operations in Switzerland, which will remain the hub for global strategy, design and distribution. The brand generates roughly $8.2 billion in annual retail sales, making it the second-largest label in Authentic’s portfolio and a significant contributor to the group’s global footprint. The transaction comes as Guess faces a mixed operating backdrop. In recent years the company has benefited from a recovery in international tourism and resilient demand in Europe, while North American sales have been more uneven amid intensifying competition and shifting consumer preferences. Guess has been working to rebalance its business toward higher-margin categories, expanding its digital channels and strengthening its licensing model, which now accounts for a growing share of earnings. Despite pressures on discretionary spending, the brand has also continued to grow internationally, with particular momentum in southern Europe, Latin America and parts of Asia. Authentic Pushes Ahead With Guess For Authentic Brands, the deal reinforces its strategy of acquiring and scaling legacy brands through licensing, partnerships and experiential extensions. Founded by Jamie Salter, the group has built a portfolio…
Filed under: News - @ January 26, 2026 3:29 pm