Luxury goods behemoth LVMH has divested the Marc Jacobs label to a consortium formed by WHP Global and G-III Apparel Group. Speculation surrounding this transaction had circulated for the past couple of years, with industry insiders linking the sale to a noticeable downturn in appetite for high-end merchandise.
Moet Hennessy — Louis Vuitton (LVMH), the French luxury conglomerate, has finalized the sale of its fashion house, Marc Jacobs, according to an official announcement regarding the accord. While the exact figures for the transaction have not been publicly disclosed, sources cited by The Wall Street Journal place the valuation of the deal around the $1 billion mark.
The purchasing entities are the US-based brand management firm WHP Global and the apparel retailer G-III Apparel Group. Under the terms established, WHP Global and G-III Apparel Group will co-establish a joint venture operating on an equal footing.
G-III, which already holds ownership of established brands like Karl Lagerfeld and DKNY, will assume responsibility for the day-to-day running of the Marc Jacobs brand. Conversely, WHP Global will dedicate its efforts to expanding the brand’s licensing infrastructure. The label’s founder, Marc Jacobs, will retain his role as Creative Director.
Talks regarding a potential divestment of the brand emerged within the luxury goods sector throughout 2024. In April of this year, the Financial Times reported on LVMH’s intentions to streamline some of its holdings. Besides Marc Jacobs, the publication suggested that other entities, such as singer Rihanna’s cosmetics venture Fenty Beauty and the vintner Joseph Phelps Vineyards, were also under consideration for sale.
LVMH’s revenue performance for the initial quarter of 2026 showed a modest uptick of just 1%, reaching €19.1 billion. Since the start of the year, the holding company’s share value has slipped by nearly 30%.
The Marc Jacobs brand was first established in 1984 in New York City. LVMH acquired a controlling stake in the company in 1997. Market participants perceived this sale as fitting into the French conglomerate’s broader strategy of portfolio optimization. Furthermore, the worldwide luxury market is concurrently experiencing reduced consumer demand, prompting companies to shed assets within this segment.
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