WHP Global and G-III to acquire Marc Jacobs from LVMH in major luxury sector realignment

LVMH has reached a definitive agreement to divest the Marc Jacobs brand to brand management firm WHP Global and G-III Apparel Group. The transaction ends a nearly 30-year partnership and positions Marc Jacobs as a central asset in WHP Global’s expanding premium fashion portfolio, which is projected to exceed 9.5 billion USD in retail sales.

LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton has agreed to sell the Marc Jacobs brand to WHP Global in a strategic divestment expected to close by the end of 2026. Under the terms of the agreement, WHP Global will integrate the label into its premium fashion vertical, while G-III Apparel Group will co-invest and assume operational control over significant portions of the brand's global wholesale and direct-to-consumer networks. LVMH is the world's largest luxury conglomerate, while WHP Global specializes in high-growth brand management and licensing for global retail assets.

This development is significant as it marks a transition from a traditional luxury house stewardship to a high-scale licensing and operational model. Since 1997, LVMH has fostered the brand’s global relevance, but the shift to WHP and G-III suggests a strategy focused on aggressive category expansion and volume-driven growth. For the global fashion and accessories industries, this move highlights the increasing influence of specialized brand management firms in the luxury and 'accessible luxury' segments. Strategically, the acquisition elevates WHP Global’s total retail footprint beyond 9.5 billion USD, signaling a consolidation of power among mid-to-high-tier fashion labels.

For investors, the partnership between WHP’s licensing platform and G-III’s operational expertise represents a targeted effort to optimize the brand’s footprint in footwear, leather goods, and fragrance. The impact will be most visible in North American and Asian retail markets, where the new owners are expected to accelerate distribution through diverse multi-channel strategies, moving the brand away from the exclusive conglomerate structure toward a more agile, operationally independent platform.