Ames Watson Acquires Claire's for $140M
September 23, 2025
Private equity firm Ames Watson has completed a $140 million acquisition of Claire’s North American business operations and intellectual property following the retailer’s Chapter 11 filing. The deal preserves a majority of Claire’s mall stores (at least 795, potentially up to 950) and thousands of jobs as Ames Watson aims to revitalize the brand through refreshed merchandising, elevated piercing services, and new store concepts.
- Buyers
- Ames Watson
- Targets
- Claire's
- Sellers
- Claire's (debtor-in-possession / Claire's Stores and affiliates)
- Industry
- Retail
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Transaction Type
- Buyout
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