The Sycamore Partners has bought L Brands’ controlling stake in the company, valuing it at $1.1 billion. The investment firm will now own a 55% stake in the company, while L Brands will retain the remaining 45%. It will run Bath & Body Works, soaps, and home fragrances brand, as a standalone company from now. Leslie Wexner, the company’s chief executive who took over the company in 1982 and converted it into an iconic brand, will be stepping down from his position. He played an instrumental role in making Victoria’s Secret the premier name in lingerie by hiring supermodels and creating Victoria’s Secret annual fashion show, which featured A-list performers and models wearing wings and bejewelled bras. Bath & Body Works’ chief operating officer Andrew Meslow will become the new CEO of the company. 82-year-old Wexner will become the chairman emeritus and join the company board with Meslow. Note that the company is replacing the lead independent director and two other directors from the board.
Activist investing takes center stage
The move can be credited to Barington Capital, an activist investor who acquired a small stake in the company last year. Since then, it is urging the company to split Victoria’s Secret from the fast-growing Bath & Body Works. It is also pushing for the company to replace Wexner and bring a fresh board in. Barington is an adviser to the company and suggests that the old board contained a majority of men. Wexner commented, He holds a 13.24% stake in L Brands. Victoria’s Secret has become a problem for the company in recent years because of its stagnant business and growing online competition. L Brands, which is valued at $7 billion, was also criticized for not making Victoria’s Secret more inclusive of different body types and sticking with an outdated brand image. In 2019, the company earned $13.2 billion in revenue, of which nearly 50% came from the lingerie brand. However, its share in the business has dwindled in the last four quarters. On the other hand, Bath & Body Works is a rising star in its portfolio.
