WHP Global
New York brand management firm that acquires and operates consumer brands including Toys R Us, Express, Vera Wang, and Rag & Bone.
Company Type
private
Founded
2019
Headquarters
New York, New York, United States
Primary Market
Global
About WHP Global
What does WHP Global do?
WHP Global acquires consumer brands and licenses them to operating partners. It earns royalties and fees while partners handle manufacturing, distribution, and retail.
Is WHP Global publicly traded?
No. WHP is privately held by founder Yehuda Shmidman, management, and investors including Oaktree, Ares, and BlackRock.
Who founded WHP Global?
Yehuda Shmidman founded the company in New York in 2019 with backing from Oaktree Capital. He previously ran Sequential Brands Group.
Where is WHP Global headquartered?
WHP Global is headquartered in New York City.
What brands does WHP Global own?
WHP owns or controls Toys R Us, Babies R Us, Express, Anne Klein, Joseph Abboud, Joe's Jeans, Isaac Mizrahi, Lotto, Vera Wang, Rag & Bone, G-Star, Bonobos, Warners, and a majority of Marc Jacobs through a September 2026 joint venture.
Did WHP Global buy Marc Jacobs?
WHP Global closed a joint venture with G-III Apparel Group in September 2026 that gives it majority control of the Marc Jacobs brand, ending the brand's long ownership by LVMH.
History of WHP Global
Yehuda Shmidman founded WHP in 2019 with backing from Oaktree Capital Management. Shmidman had run Sequential Brands Group, where he learned the licensing model's economics and its risks. WHP's first deal was the 2019 acquisition of Anne Klein from Premier Brands Group.
The firm's growth came through rapid acquisition. It added Joseph Abboud, Isaac Mizrahi, Joe's Jeans, and William Rast, then bought a majority stake in Toys R Us in 2021 after the retailer's bankruptcy. A 60% stake in Express followed in 2022, along with Lotto, Rag & Bone, and a partnership for G-Star.
A March 2023 investment of $375 million from Ares Management valued WHP at $1.6 billion. The portfolio expanded further into Lands' End licensing, Bonobos, and Warners, reaching more than $8.5 billion in retail sales.
In September 2026, WHP closed a joint venture with G-III Apparel Group that gives it majority control of the Marc Jacobs brand, its first move into luxury fashion at scale. The deal values the brand in the hundreds of millions and ends Marc Jacobs' long ownership by LVMH.
Brands Owned by WHP Global
WHP Global owns 0 brands in our database. Explore the ownership tree below — click categories to expand and see individual brands.
WHP Global has no brands in our database yet.
WHP Global Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Asset-light licensing model produces high margins
- +Diversified portfolio across fashion, toys, and athletic brands
- +Institutional backing from Oaktree, Ares, Solus, and BlackRock
- +Marc Jacobs deal proves capability in luxury brand management
- +Rapid growth to more than $8.5 billion in retail sales in seven years
Considerations
- -Licensing revenue depends on licensee and retail partner health
- -Toys R Us and Express have histories of retail distress
- -Competitive market for brand acquisitions is crowded
- -Heavy deal pace raises integration and brand-management bandwidth questions
- -Luxury JV in Marc Jacobs carries reputational risk if execution falters
Frequently Asked Questions About WHP Global
What does WHP Global do?
WHP Global acquires consumer brands and licenses them to operating partners. It earns royalties and fees while partners handle manufacturing, distribution, and retail.
Is WHP Global publicly traded?
No. WHP is privately held by founder Yehuda Shmidman, management, and investors including Oaktree, Ares, and BlackRock.
Who founded WHP Global?
Yehuda Shmidman founded the company in New York in 2019 with backing from Oaktree Capital. He previously ran Sequential Brands Group.
Where is WHP Global headquartered?
WHP Global is headquartered in New York City.
What brands does WHP Global own?
WHP owns or controls Toys R Us, Babies R Us, Express, Anne Klein, Joseph Abboud, Joe's Jeans, Isaac Mizrahi, Lotto, Vera Wang, Rag & Bone, G-Star, Bonobos, Warners, and a majority of Marc Jacobs through a September 2026 joint venture.
Did WHP Global buy Marc Jacobs?
WHP Global closed a joint venture with G-III Apparel Group in September 2026 that gives it majority control of the Marc Jacobs brand, ending the brand's long ownership by LVMH.
Sources & Further Reading
Jobs at WHP Global
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