Mergers & Acquisitions

Kroger Co. is close to wrapping up a deal to buy some of the Walgreens and Rite Aid stores that Walgreens needs to divest in order to complete its acquisition of the drug store chain. The Cincinnati Courier reports the deal involving multiple buyers for nearly 1,000 stores should be finalized by year-end. Kroger is in…

Walgreens Boots Alliance may be getting closer to divesting hundreds of stores to win U.S. regulatory approval of its Rite Aid acquisition as reports of U.S. pharmacy consolidation escalate. A Walgreens partner emerged when Fred’s Pharmacy disclosed its management was discussing a “pending transaction.” Management at Fred's cautioned on its third quarter earnings call that “no…

The merger between Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's has seem to hit a bit of a bump in the road. According to the New York Post, the Federal Trade Commission has asked Bass Pro Shops for more information on its $5.5 billion acquisition of Cabela's, a move that may hold up the deal for up…

Supermarket chain Albertsons Companies is allegedly in advanced talks to acquire Price Chopper for around $1 billion, sources told Fortune. Price Chopper operates roughly 130 stores across the Northeast, and Albertsons has over 2,200 locations — making it the second-largest U.S. grocer behind Kroger. Sources also told Fortune that it’s still possible for the negotiations to…

To help it expand into the sale of personalized goods, Bed Bath & Beyond has acquired online retailer PersonalizationMall.com for around $190 million. Bed Bath & Beyond sees an opportunity to sell items to commemorate events like weddings, birthdays and holidays, and this acquisition figures to help with those efforts. PMall.com sells products such as personalized mugs, doormats…

Cosmetics maker Estée Lauder Companies, Inc. has agreed to buy makeup brand Too Faced for about $1.45 billion in its biggest-ever deal. Founded in 1998 by Jerrod Blandino and Jeremy Johnson, Too Faced sells its products at retailers such as Sephora, Debenhams and Macy's. Too Faced is expected to have sales of $270 million in 2016,…

Online jewelry retailer Blue Nile said earlier today that it has agreed to be taken private by an investor group that includes Bain Capital Private Equity and Bow Street for about $500 million in cash. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2017, but under the terms of the merger agreement,…

Anonymous sources told Bloomberg that Finish Line is looking for a buyer for its JackRabbit chain of specialty running shoe stores. JackRabbit has about 70 locations under various names. Experts say the division could draw interest from private equity firms and other sporting goods chains.

Wal-Mart is shaking things up a bit. The big-box retailer announced changes to its e-commerce leadership as Marc Lore, founder of Jet.com, takes on new responsibilities in the wake of the $3.3 billion merger of the two companies. As a result, several e-commerce executives are leaving Wal-Mart, including Fernando Madeira, head of Walmart.com, and Brent…

Groupon announced yesterday that it will acquire one-time rival LivingSocial. The Chicago-based e-commerce marketplace didn't disclose the price it paid for a shrunken LivingSocial, but said, "the acquisition consideration is not material." Groupon expects the deal to close in November. LivingSocial said last month it was laying off half its employees, bringing its headcount to about…