WHP Global today announced a $375 million equity investment from funds managed by the Private Equity Group of Ares Management Corporation (NYSE: ARES) providing significant growth capital for WHP Global’s next wave of brand acquisitions. The transaction values WHP Global at $1.6 billion. Jordan Smith and Aaron Rosen, Partners in the Ares Private Equity Group will join WHP Global’s Board of Directors.

2023 serves as a milestone year for iconic American fashion brand ANNE KLEIN as it celebrates 55 years of style, impact and the legacy of its namesake founder. To kick-off the year, Anne Klein has tapped South African supermodel, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Candice Swanepoel to appear in a new Spring/Summer 2023 fashion campaign.

WHP Global and American Dream announced a partnership to bring the beloved Babies“R”Us brand back to customers in the United States with the debut of its first flagship store, which is scheduled to open this summer.

Fashion apparel retailer Express, Inc. and WHP Global have entered into a mutually transformative strategic partnership to advance an omnichannel platform which is expected to drive accelerated, long-term growth through the acquisition and operation of a portfolio of brands. EXPR and WHP will also form an intellectual property joint venture intended to scale the Express brand through new domestic category licensing and international expansion opportunities.

WHP Global partners with leading web3.0 technology agency Anybodies to bring the iconic Toys"R"Us brand to the metaverse. The first launch will include the release of 10,000 digital collectibles that feature the brand's star mascot Geoffrey the Giraffe on Solana, the carbon neutral blockchain.

WHP Global signed a long-term license with leading Chinese luxury fashion retail group YouXiang to bring the Joseph Abboud brand to China across all channels of distribution including e-commerce, freestanding retail stores, shop-in-shops, and wholesale/franchise.

Lotto® brand owner WHP Global and Lotto Sport Italia S.p.A. (“LSI”) proudly announce the addition of soccer commentator Stu Holden as a brand ambassador for the iconic Italian sports brand. Holden, a former member of the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team, is currently the lead match analyst for FOX Sports, where he covers some of the biggest sporting events in the World, including the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

VeeFriends, created by serial entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk, will launch its first-ever limited series of collectible characters exclusively at Toys“R”Us® and Macy's. This is the first step in bringing the VeeFriends characters to life, from digital NFT collectibles to physical collectibles, giving access to any consumer to own a VeeFriends character – expanding beyond its robust NFT community and NFT holders.

To kick off the holiday season, Macy’s and Toys“R”Us® reveal Geoffrey’s 2022 Hot Toy List. This year’s 100 Hot Toy List features the most exciting toys for the ‘Toys R Us’ kid in all of us, from favorite brands like Barbie, Fisher-Price, LEGO, Disney, Pokémon, Hot Wheels and more. Customers can shop toys off the Hot Toy List and thousands more, arriving now through October in-store at all Macy's store nationwide and online at macys.com and toysrus.com.

Lotto's Ons Jabeur once again made history at Flushing Meadows, becoming the first Arab and the first African woman to reach the US Open Final. With her tremendous achievement, the Lotto ambassador jumped back up to the No. 2 ranked Women’s Singles player in the world, matching her career high.