Debenhams Group sells Nasty Gal brand to WSG Brands for $16m

Debenhams Group has completed the sale of the Nasty Gal brand, including its global intellectual property rights, to White Space Group New York (WSG Brands) for $16 million (£12 million) in cash.

Nasty Gal, which Debenhams Group acquired in February 2017, generated £12 million in gross merchandise value (GMV) and £400,000 in adjusted EBITDA during the 2026 financial year. The group categorized the brand as a “non-core” asset.

The transaction is part of a broader strategic pivot by Debenhams Group toward a “capital-lite,” marketplace-led business model. This move follows the recent £90 million sale of the group’s Sheffield distribution center to Primark. CEO Dan Finley stated that the disposal aligns with the company’s ongoing turnaround efforts and serves to further strengthen the balance sheet.

WSG Brands, the purchaser, manages a portfolio that includes the American brand Von Dutch.