Dive Brief:
- Just days after reworking the deal terms, Bed Bath & Beyond parent company Neighborhood Intelligence has called off its acquisition of real estate platform Fathom Holdings.
- The boards of both companies determined that the deal “at current valuations would not appropriately reflect the fair value of either company for its shareholders,” Neighborhood Intelligence and Fathom Holdings said in a joint press release Monday. “The companies believe the timing is not right to combine their businesses.”
- At the same time, Neighborhood Intelligence said it doesn’t intend to pursue additional acquisitions as it focuses on organic growth within its existing businesses.
Dive Insight:
Neighborhood Intelligence is walking back a strategy to build out its portfolio through acquisitions as it focuses on strengthening its core business, driving organic revenue growth, improving margins and reducing costs.
The company has spent the last year or so on an acquisition spree to expand its offering beyond just retail and into home ownership and services.
Earlier this year, Neighborhood Intelligence — formerly known as Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. — closed on its deal to acquire The Brand House Collective (formerly Kirkland’s Inc.) and The Container Store. And in addition to Fathom Holdings, the company also inked deals beyond traditional retail, including SFV Services, Installed Right and F9 Brands, though the latter deal was also called off last month.
In late September, Neighborhood Intelligence and Fathom Holdings reworked their deal to leverage “substantially all” of Neighborhood Intelligence’s digital assets, giving Fathom nearly 40% direct and indirect ownership interest in tZero Group, its Medici-related fund assets and direct investment in GrainChain. The company said the newly proposed deal would have attributed around $130 million in value to those digital asset contributions.
On Monday, Neighborhood Intelligence said that retaining ownership over its blockchain and digital assets, particularly tZero, is necessary.
“After listening to shareholders and reviewing the alternatives, we believe retaining ownership and control of our blockchain assets while allowing tZero to continue executing its plan is the appropriate path,” Neighborhood Intelligence CEO Marcus Lemonis said in a statement. “We are encouraged by the potential of these assets and believe retaining them gives our shareholders the best opportunity to participate in their future value.”
However, Neighborhood Intelligence and Fathom Holdings are “exploring ways to work together where collaboration can create value,” which could include data sharing and the use of each other’s businesses, technology, relationships and other assets, the companies said.
