Victoria’s Secret & Co. announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire 100 percent of Adore Me, Inc., a digitally-native intimates brand. The deal will create significant upside for VS&Co, including the opportunity to leverage Adore Me’s expertise and technology to continue to improve the Victoria’s Secret and PINK customer shopping experience and accelerate the modernization of VS&Co’s digital platform. As a trailblazer in the intimates value segment, Adore Me will also serve as a growth vehicle for VS&Co, providing access to a consumer that is complementary to VS&Co’s existing customer base. VS&Co and Adore Me will continue pushing the intimate category forward in a more inclusive, tech-forward, and sustainable way.
The structured transaction includes an initial upfront $400 million cash payment and further cash consideration, a portion of which is fixed and a portion of which is based on the performance of Adore Me and achievement of specified growth and synergy targets over a two-year period. This reflects Adore Me’s growth potential and combined company synergies. The transaction has been unanimously approved by VS&Co’s Board of Directors and is expected to close by the end of January 2023, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory clearances. VS&Co plans to finance the transaction at closing with cash on hand.
“I’m absolutely delighted to be announcing this transaction, welcoming Adore Me into the VS&Co family. Adore Me is a technology-led, digital-first innovator in the intimates category that will help us bring differentiated experiences to Victoria’s Secret and PINK customers,” said Martin Waters, CEO, Victoria’s Secret & Co. “This acquisition will be a significant accelerant as we pivot toward growth and modernize the foundation of our company with an entrepreneurial mindset that puts technology at the forefront of everything we do. In partnering with the incredible team at Adore Me, we will move to the future much faster.”
Named a leading Digital Native Growth Brand in intimates by the NPD Group, Adore Me serves more than 1.2 million active customers and is powered by a sophisticated proprietary technology platform with highly differentiated customer experiences including “Home Try-On” and monthly subscription options. Adore Me has long been a leader in extended sizes and continues to push the category forward in a more environmentally-conscious way as a Certified B Corporation.
“We have significantly grown our business over the past decade, and are excited to bring our technology, purchase experiences, inclusive assortment, brand and team to join the next phase of Victoria’s Secret’s growth and customer journey transformation,” said Morgan Hermand, Founder and CEO of Adore Me.
Adore Me’s “Home Try-On” offering generates strong retention among its customers with a personalized product experience and has achieved scale by leveraging a complex combination of proprietary logistics, algorithms, and operational assets. This shopping experience presents an attractive new option for the Victoria’s Secret customer base and exemplifies the next generation of retail innovation to complement Victoria’s Secret’s best-in-class physical store offering.
Victoria’s Secret has transformed the intimate apparel industry over its lifetime, and its acquisition of Adore Me represents a combination of scale, brand, and digital excellence that will advance the company’s innovation and customer experience.