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Lands’ End and WHP Global to Form Joint Venture to Unlock the Value of Lands’ End’s Intellectual Property
Globenewswire· 2026-01-26 13:00
Core Viewpoint - The agreement between Lands' End and WHP Global aims to enhance stockholder value through a joint venture that leverages Lands' End's intellectual property while significantly strengthening its balance sheet with $300 million in gross proceeds [1][3][4]. Financial Impact - Lands' End will receive $300 million in gross cash proceeds from WHP Global, which will enable the full repayment of its term loan of approximately $234 million as of January 26, 2026 [4][5]. - WHP Global will also initiate a tender offer for up to $100 million of Lands' End shares at a price of $45 per share, potentially resulting in WHP owning up to 7% of Lands' End's outstanding shares [9]. Joint Venture Structure - The joint venture will be formed with Lands' End contributing all its intellectual property and related assets associated with the "Lands' End" brand, while WHP Global will acquire a 50% controlling ownership stake [4][6]. - Lands' End will maintain operational control over its direct-to-consumer and B2B businesses, while WHP Global will lead the global licensing strategy and brand expansion [4][5]. Growth Opportunities - The partnership is expected to accelerate Lands' End's expansion into new categories and geographies by utilizing WHP Global's extensive brand management platform, which generates over $8 billion in retail sales across more than 80 countries [1][5][7]. - The joint venture will also include a long-term license agreement, ensuring Lands' End continues to operate its existing business using the contributed intellectual property, with guaranteed minimum royalty payments starting at $50 million for the first year [8]. Strategic Outlook - The collaboration is viewed as a significant opportunity to enhance the value of the Lands' End brand, with expectations of improved partner selection and long-term royalty generation [5][6]. - Both companies express optimism about the potential for strong returns and future value creation through this partnership [6][7].