July 18, 2013
Men's Wearhouse agrees to acquire JA Holding, Inc., the parent company of iconic American clothing brand Joseph Abboud®, for approximately $97.5 million in cash.
On July 18, Willkie client Men's Wearhouse announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire JA Holding, Inc., the parent company of Joseph Abboud®, the iconic American clothing brand, for approximately $97.5 million in cash. JA Holding, which is currently majority-owned by funds affiliated with J.W. Childs Associates, L.P., owns several brand names, including Joseph Abboud, JOE Joseph Abboud, Joseph Abboud BOYS and Joseph Abboud Home. The transaction, which is expected to accelerate the strategy to expand Men's Wearhouse's exclusive brands, includes ownership of JA Holding's exclusive U.S. tailored clothing factory that employs 450 highly skilled people.
Founded in 1973, Men's Wearhouse is one of North America's largest specialty retailers of men's apparel with 1,141 stores. Joseph Abboud, the founder and creator of the Joseph Abboud® brand, as well as one of the nation's leading menswear designers, has served as Chief Creative Director of Men's Wearhouse since December 2012. Joseph Abboud branded products are available in department stores and specialty stores throughout the United States and more than fifty countries worldwide.
Last month, as reported widely in the press, Willkie represented the Board of Directors of Men's Wearhouse in the termination of George Zimmer from his position as Executive Chairman. The current transaction was handled by partners Steven Seidman, Laura Delanoy, Christopher Peters, Michael Katz and Eugene Chang and associates Howard Block, Greg LeSaint, Jonathan Kubek, Meredith Levy, Andrew Shapiro, Rose Ohanesian, Michael Jackowitz, Kathryn Allen and Meghan Hungate.
