Liz Claiborne Buys Ellen Tracy In $180M Deal
DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
NEW YORK -- Liz Claiborne Inc. (LIZ) confirmed its purchase of privately held women's sportswear designer Ellen Tracy Inc. for about $180 million, including the assumption of debt.
Women's Wear Daily reported July 30 that negotiations were taking place for Liz Claiborne to buy the bridge sportswear firm. A Liz Claiborne spokeswoman said at the time that the company doesn't comment on rumors.
In a press release Monday, fashion apparel maker Liz Claiborne said it expects the transaction to be neutral to earnings in the fourth quarter but to provide "meaningful accretion" to earnings in 2003.
Herb Gallen, who founded Ellen Tracy in 1949, will act as chairman of the Ellen Tracy enterprise within Liz Claiborne, while Linda Allard continues as Ellen Tracy's design director. Glenn McMahon, formerly president of Kenneth Cole women's sportswear at Liz Claiborne, will become president of Ellen Tracy.
Ellen Tracy had 2001 sales of $171 million. Liz Claiborne had 2001 sales of $3.45 billion.