Mergers & Acquisitions

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said Monday it would try to block the merger of two large grocery chains, Kroger and Albertsons, saying it would result in higher prices and lower wages for workers. If successful, the merger would be the largest for supermarkets in history, according to a press release from the FTC.…

Walmart has agreed to buy TV maker Vizio, the companies announced Tuesday, as the largest U.S. retailer grows its high-profit ad business, reports CNBC. Walmart will acquire Vizio for $2.3 billion, or $11.50 per share, in cash. The big-box retailer announced the acquisition as it reported its fourth-quarter earnings. Walmart and its Sam’s Club warehouse…

Shoe Carnival is expanding with the acquisition of Rogan's Shoes, a midwestern independent shoe retailer with 28 stores in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois. Shoe Carnival announced the acquisition Tuesday, saying it had purchased Rogan's Shoes for $45 million. The company said the move "advances [its] strategy to be the nation’s leading family footwear retailer" and…

In the past year, the retail industry has witnessed an unprecedented surge in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), exceeding $100 billion in total activity. As we begin 2024, it's forecasted that we will see an explosion in M&A activity. Retailers are strategically engaging in M&A for multiple reasons, from international expansion to increasing market share, expanding…

Chico's FAS Inc. shareholders approved the sale of the fashion company for $1 billion cash to New York-based private equity firm Sycamore Partners, reports News-Press. New owner Sycamore Partners has moved Chico’s brands — Chico's, White House Black Market, and Soma — into KnitWell, a holding company formed last year. KnitWell also includes Ann Taylor,…

LVMH is buying luxury eyewear brand Barton Perreira, famed for making James Bond’s shades, as it taps into the fast-growing designer sunglass market, reports CNBC. LVMH’s Thelios eyewear division agreed to acquire Irvine, California-based Barton Perreira for an undisclosed sum. The deal is Thelio’s second big acquisition in two months, after it bought French Alpine…

The consumer packaged goods conglomerate Unilever announced the sale of Dollar Shave Club to a private equity firm, Nexus Capital Management LP, whose portfolio includes the shoe brand Toms, the plant-based food and beverage brand TruRoots, and the beauty supplement brand Sugarbear, among others. Unilever, based in London, will retain a minority interest of 35 percent. The sale comes…

Overstock.com, Inc., which operates as Bed Bath & Beyond, today announced that it will change its corporate name to Beyond, Inc. effective Nov. 6, 2023. The company will also transfer its stock listing from the Nasdaq Global Market (NASDAQ) to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and change its ticker symbol from OSTK to BYON. Following…

E-commerce giant Shopify is now a stakeholder in the wholesale platform Faire, the companies announced Wednesday. The deal establishes Faire as the recommended wholesale marketplace for Shopify and expands Shopify’s B2B offerings, helping drive growth for the brands as well as the independent retailers the two companies serve. “At Faire we have long admired Shopify’s like-minded…

Women’s apparel retailer Soft Surroundings last week filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and announced plans to close all 44 of its stores. The company’s remaining assets have been acquired by Coldwater Creek under the ownership of Newtimes Group, which plans to continue to sell Soft Surroundings' apparel and accessories online and via catalogs. Soft Surroundings has secured $18 million…