LVMH is selling Marc Jacobs to WHP Global, the parent company of Vera Wang and Rag & Bone, the two companies confirmed on Thursday.
WHP Global Expands Portfolio
WHP Global, based in New York, adds Marc Jacobs to its growing list of brands, which includes G-Star, Joe’s, Express, and Vera Wang. G-III Apparel Group, owner of Donna Karan, will partner with WHP Global in owning the Marc Jacobs brand.
“Marc Jacobs is a designer of rare creativity and unique vision,” LVMH chair and CEO Bernard Arnault stated. “His impact on fashion is undeniable. I am confident this new chapter will offer new opportunities for Marc Jacobs.”
Financial Insights
The acquisition of Marc Jacobs adds to WHP Global's retail sales, surpassing $9.5 billion globally. G-III and WHP Global will form a 50/50 joint venture, owning Marc Jacobs’s intellectual property. G-III plans to acquire the Marc Jacobs operating business, investing approximately $500 million, valuing the deal at roughly $1 billion.
Marc Jacobs will remain as founder and creative director, ensuring the brand's vision and collections continue.
Marc Jacobs's Legacy
Founded in 1984 by Marc Jacobs and Robert Duffy, the brand became internationally recognized under LVMH's ownership. Marc Jacobs launched a diffusion line in 2001, discontinued in 2015. In 2020, the company introduced Heaven by Marc Jacobs, targeting a younger audience with a Y2K-inspired aesthetic.
Despite its success, Marc Jacobs has been more vulnerable to slowing luxury spending compared to ultra-high-end brands like Loro Piana. During LVMH's first-quarter earnings call, CFO Cécile Cabanis noted that most brands in the division underperformed, except Louis Vuitton, Loro Piana, and Rimowa.
Future Prospects
Jacobs recently collaborated with Sofia Coppola on a documentary, Marc by Sofia, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival. The Wall Street Journal reported LVMH's potential sale in July 2025, with WHP Global among interested buyers. The deal follows LVMH's divestiture of other brands, such as Off-White and Stella McCartney.
As the luxury sector recovers, companies like LVMH are reassessing their brand portfolios, focusing on megabrands and high-profit contributors. LVMH CFO Cécile Cabanis stated their strategy involves fixing underperforming brands or finding suitable new homes for them.
Marc Jacobs expressed optimism about the transition in an Instagram post, highlighting his gratitude to Bernard Arnault and excitement for the future with WHP Global.
Source: https://www.vogue.com/article/lvmh-to-sell-marc-jacobs-to-whp-global
