*

Walgreens, Authentic Brands, WHP Global and Marquee Brands

evaluate IP and loyalty program

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Kourtney Kardashian and private equity firms express

interest in

Thrifty ice cream brand

By Abigail Summerville

NEW YORK, June 10 (Reuters) - Pharmacy chain Walgreens

and reality star turned entrepreneur Kourtney Kardashian are

among those picking over the remaining assets in Rite Aid's

bankruptcy, according to two people familiar with the matter.

In addition to Walgreens, brand management companies

Authentic Brands Group, WHP Global and Marquee Brands

have been evaluating Rite Aid's intellectual property and

potentially its loyalty program, according to the people who

asked not to be named because the process is private.

All three brand management companies have bought the IP of

other retailers out of bankruptcy.

Authentic Brands, which owns Reebok and is a Saks Fifth

Avenue investor, bought the IP of fast-fashion chain Forever 21

and luxury seller Barneys out of bankruptcy. WHP Global

resurrected Toys "R" Us following its 2017 bankruptcy, while

Marquee acquired fashion retailer BCBG Max Azria Group out of

bankruptcy.

Kardashian, co-founder of gummy vitamin maker Lemme and

owner of wellness and lifestyle website Poosh, has expressed

interest in Rite Aid's ice cream brand Thrifty, the people

said.

Rite Aid, which operates about 1,200 stores and has around 8

million customers, filed for bankruptcy in May for the second

time in two years.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Michael Kaplan already approved store

closures and a sale of customer prescription files to 13 buyers

including CVS Health ( CVS ) and Walgreens.

Brand management firms like Authentic, Marquee and WHP

typically buy a brand's IP and then license it to operating

partners which have the manufacturing, design and sales

responsibilities.

The pharmacy chain's Thrifty ice cream brand is sold by the

scoop at counters in certain Rite Aid locations or by the carton

at Rite Aid and other retailers nationwide. Thrifty launched in

1940 at a small factory in West Hollywood and counts several

celebrities as customers, including Kardashian, who could buy

the brand by herself or with a partner, the people said.

Some consumer-focused private equity firms are also eyeing

Thrifty, the sources said.

Rite Aid, Walgreens, Authentic Brands, and WHP declined to

comment. Marquee Brands and representatives for Kardashian did

not respond to requests for comment.

The current bid deadline for the remaining assets is June 18

at 5 p.m. ET (2100 GMT).

Pennsylvania-based Rite Aid has struggled under a high debt

load, inflationary pressures and increased competition.