Authentic Brands Group (ABG) is making headlines with its strategic acquisition of Guess?, Inc ., set to finalize in early 2026 . The deal , valued at a staggering $1.4 billion (including debt), transitions Guess from public trading to privately held, marking one of the largest and most influential U.S.
fashion transactions of the year. Guess will join ABG’s portfolio—which already boasts over 50 international brands and generates $38 billion in annual global retail sales—setting the stage for a new era of scale,
synergy, and omnichannel innovation. Deal Structure: The 51/49 Split and Shareholder Premiums Under the terms, ABG will own 51% of a new entity controlling almost all Guess intellectual property and global licensing agreements.
The remaining 49% will stay in the hands of Guess’s founders— Maurice and Paul Marciano , Nicolai Marciano, and CEO Carlos Alberini . Notably, Guess shareholders outside this group will receive a payout of $16.75 per share, representing a 26%–73% premium over earlier bids and previous stock prices.
This is a significant uplift compared to March’s $13 per share offer from WHP Global, which the special committee ultimately declined in favor of Authentic . The operating side of Guess will become a private entity, managed by the current leadership team.
This move means nearly 1,000 directly managed stores and over 600 partner-operated locations (totalling ∼ 1,600 stores across 100 countries) remain under Marciano and Alberini leadership, with no disruption of day-to-day operations anticipated…
