WHP Global

Yehuda Shmidman, the Chairman and CEO who founded the firm in 2019, leads investment decisions alongside a board that includes representatives from Ares Management and Oaktree Capital. Shmidman previously ran Sequential Brands Group and held senior roles at Iconix Brand Group, giving him two decades of experience in brand licensing acquisitions. Day-to-day brand operations for each portfolio company are run by separate brand presidents.

WHP targets household brands trading at valuations that reflect underinvestment in distribution or brand management — typically IP that can be purchased with limited assumption of operating infrastructure. The firm identifies targets through its network of lenders, brand brokers, and retail partners, often acquiring assets from distressed corporate sellers or private equity owners that have struggled to grow the brand. Its 2023 Express acquisition, for example, was executed as a partnership with Simon Property Group and Brookfield Properties.

WHP operates as a hybrid — it raises permanent-equity capital from institutional investors but directly manages brand assets through licensing and operational oversight rather than the typical private equity buy-and-improve-then-sell cycle. The firm holds brands indefinitely, similar to how Authentic Brands Group operates, but focuses more heavily on accessible luxury and mass-market categories rather than celebrity-driven portfolios.

WHP targets mature brands with at least $100 million in annual retail sales that have strong consumer awareness but underperforming distribution. The firm does not invest in startups or early-stage consumer concepts. Target sectors include fashion apparel, toys, home goods, and sports equipment — categories where brand IP can be licensed across multiple product types and geographies without requiring the firm to own factories or inventory.

WHP is structured as an operating company, not a fund, so it does not participate in third-party fund commitments as a limited partner. Its capital comes from equity raised from institutional investors including Ares Management, Oaktree Capital, and Solus, which hold minority stakes in the platform company itself. All brand acquisitions are made directly by WHP's corporate entity.

Ares Management led the initial $700 million equity commitment to WHP at formation in 2019, alongside Oaktree Capital and Solus Alternative Asset Management. These firms are minority equity holders in the platform company, not creditors. Ares provided an additional $375 million in growth equity in 2023 to fund acquisitions including the Express and Rag & Bone transactions.

WHP has demonstrated willingness to partner with other capital providers on specific deals — the Express acquisition included Simon Property Group and Brookfield Properties as minority partners, and the Anne Klein brand is managed jointly with Premiere Brands Group. The firm's model typically involves retaining controlling interest while structuring deals that allow brand sellers or retail landlords to retain minority equity.