Noting that its customers’ interest in fabric and sewing has grown in the last year or so, crafts retailer Michaels announced June 5 that it has acquired Joann’s IP and its private label rights for an undisclosed amount. 

The sewing retailer’s assets were sold in February, with plans to wind down, about a month after filing for bankruptcy for the second time in less than a year. At the time of the deal, store liquidation sales were ongoing, and Michaels said that physical store locations were not part of the transaction.

E.l.f. Beauty in May announced it would acquire Hailey Bieber’s Rhode beauty brand for $1 billion, including $800 million at closing and an additional $200 million as a performance-based payout over the following three years. The deal is expected to close late in 2025.

The acquisition comes just two years after E.l.f. acquired skin care brand Naturium and amid a “very high bar for M&A,” according to E.l.f. CEO Tarang Amin. Bieber and her co-founders will stay on with the company after the acquisition in various leadership roles and Rhode will continue to be based in Los Angeles.

E.l.f. plans to expand Rhode’s retail distribution, product assortment and brand awareness. At the time of the deal, Rhode had just netted $212 million in net sales for the preceding 12 months.

Williams-Sonoma, which owns its namesake brand, West Elm, Pottery Barn and others, announced in May that it would acquire Dormify’s intellectual property for an undisclosed amount. Dormify specializes in college decor and will allow Williams-Sonoma to “capture market share and unlock white space across key demographic and lifestyle segments,” according to a press release.

At the time, Williams-Sonoma said it would relaunch the Dormify website in 2026 with an updated assortment. Dormify was founded in 2011 by Karen and Amanda Zuckerman to provide stylish and affordable home goods for college students.

Levi Strauss & Co. announced it will sell Dockers to conglomerate Authentic Brands Group. The initial deal is for $311 million, but has the potential to reach up to $391 million based on the performance of the brand under Authentic’s ownership. The deal is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close over two different dates in the next year. 

In a separate announcement, Authentic said the company signed a licensing agreement with Centric Brands, which will act as Dockers’ operating partner for specific categories in the U.S. and Canada. 

“The Dockers transaction further aligns our portfolio with our strategic priorities, focusing on our direct-to-consumer first approach, growing our international presence and investing in opportunities across women’s and denim lifestyle,” Levi’s CEO Michelle Gass said in a statement. “After a robust process, we are confident that we maximized the value of the business and that Authentic is the right organization to usher in the next chapter of growth for the Dockers brand.”

Dick’s Sporting Goods in May announced its plans to acquire rival Foot Locker in a $2.4 billion deal. The combined company plans to operate Foot Locker as a stand-alone business; Dick’s believes the acquisition will give it access to a new subset of lifestyle-focused customers and allow it to take advantage of Foot Locker’s complementary store footprint. Foot Locker and Dick’s will also become stronger partners to brands such as Nike as a collective business, executives said.

While analysts expressed skepticism at the acquisition, given Foot Locker is in the midst of a turnaround, Dick’s executives said they feel confident they can correct that retailer’s mistakes and get the business back on track. At the time of the deal, there were no plans for mass store closures at Foot Locker, which operates over 2,400 stores globally compared to Dick’s roughly 850. Executives said the deal would not impact Dick’s current growth trajectory and that it does not yet plan to expand Dick’s into the international markets Foot Locker operates in.

The deal is expected to close in the second half of the year.

Hudson’s Bay Co. agreed to sell its intellectual property to Canadian Tire Corporation for $30 million Canadian dollars (around $21.4 million at the time). The deal includes the company’s labels and designs for HBC Stripes, Hudson’s Bay Company and The Bay, but doesn’t encompass HBC’s art and artifacts. Canadian Tire Corporation also bid on some store leases as part of Hudson’s Bay’s restructuring.

“It’s disheartening to witness the final days of another great Canadian retailer, and while the circumstances are unfortunate, we’re proud to step in for customers,” Canadian Tire Corporation President and CEO Greg Hicks said in a statement regarding the deal. “We are proud to steward these iconic brands into our – and their – next century.”

Swimwear brand Andie agreed to acquire apparel brand Richer Poorer for an undisclosed amount. The deal marks Richer Poorer’s second sale in two years after Francesca’s scooped up the brand in 2023.

Richer Poorer will continue to operate as a separate label under Andie. The deal marks Andie’s first acquisition.

Beyond, Inc. in May said it agreed to acquire the intellectual property of Kirkland’s for $5 million. The deal builds on a previous partnership the two companies formed in early 2025.

Beyond Executive Chairman and Principal Executive Officer Marcus Lemonis said the company sees “great value in enhancing our intellectual property portfolio to include Kirkland’s Home within our family of brands alongside Bed Bath & Beyond, Overstock, and BuyBuy Baby, among others. We expect this to enhance Beyond’s brand equity and unlock new revenue streams across retail formats.”

Through the deal, Kirkland’s can open and operate Bed Bath & Beyond Home and BuyBuy Baby stores in the neighborhood format retail footprint. Beyond will license Kirkland’s IP back to that company.

GameStop sold its Canadian business, Electronics Boutique Canada Inc., to entrepreneur Stephan Tetrault, who will act as the company’s CEO. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the business will be relaunched as EB Games Canada. 

“This isn’t just a business decision — it’s about bringing something back that Canadians truly loved,” Tetrault said in a statement. “We’re going to build something special here, with community, nostalgia, and innovation at its heart.”

Tetrault is the co-owner of action figure manufacturer McFarlane Toys and game company Imports Dragon.

Skechers agreed to sell itself to investment firm 3G Capital for $63 per share, amounting to about $9.4 billion. As a result of the deal, which analysts described as one of the largest privatization deals in the softlines industry in years, Skechers will no longer trade on the New York Stock Exchange.

The footwear company will continue to be led by Chairman and CEO Robert Greenberg, President Michael Greenberg and COO David Weinberg. The deal is expected to close in the third quarter.

After more than a century of family ownership, dancewear brand Capezio inked a deal to sell itself to private equity firm Argand Partners for an undisclosed sum. Several family members, including CEO Michael Terlizzi, will remain invested in the company following the close of the deal.

Looking ahead, Argand plans to develop new product lines and forge licensing agreements for the brand.

Etsy announced it would sell its musical instrument marketplace Reverb Holdings to a subsidiary owned by Reverb Partners. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The decision to sell off the business came nearly six years after Etsy purchased the company for $275 million in cash. 

Etsy said it divested the company to concentrate more on its core marketplace and Depop.

Private equity firms Kingswood Capital Management and Performance Investment Partners in April forged a deal to acquire The Vitamin Shoppe from Franchise Group for about $193.5 million. The deal closed on May 20.

Kingswood partner Michael Niegsch and PIP partner Mark Genender said the company will focus on operating “great stores,” improving its digital capabilities, investing in private labels and working with third-party brands to improve its distribution.

Lowe’s agreed to acquire Artisan Design Group for $1.3 billion with cash on hand. ADG provides interior design, distribution and installation services for interior surface finishes including flooring, cabinets and countertops. The deal will expand Lowe’s pro services. 

“With more than 18 million homes needed in the United States by 2033, we expect new home construction will be a major driver of Pro planned spend for the next decade,” Marvin Ellison, Lowe’s CEO, said in a statement. “The acquisition of ADG allows us to build on our momentum with Pro planned spend and is expected to expand our total addressable market by approximately $50 billion.”

Lowe’s completed the acquisition on June 2.

A decade after acquiring Family Dollar for $8.5 billion, Dollar Tree sold the struggling chain to private equity firms Brigade Capital Management and Macellum Capital Management for just over $1 billion. The deal, announced March 26, is expected to close in Q2. Dollar Tree talked about unloading the banner for months, after announcing plans in 2024 to close 1,000 stores, which were mostly Family Dollar locations.

Several analysts have long been dubious about the acquisition, so the sale isn’t much of a surprise – except to the extent that some, including Wells Fargo analysts led by Edward Kelly, weren’t sure Dollar Tree could unload it. Despite the huge discount, Kelly called the deal “an upside surprise.”

About a year after buying the brand, Beyond Inc. in March sold a majority stake in Zulily.

Lyons Trading Company, operator of off-price online retailer Proozy.com, bought 75% of Zulily under a definitive agreement for $5 million, Beyond said in a statement. Beyond will retain a 25% stake in Zulily. The deal valued Zulily at $6.7 million overall.

Beyond executives said in a statement divesting Zulily allows the retailer to focus on its core brands and largest growth opportunities in pursuit of profitability. 

It’s Zulily’s fourth owner in two years. QVC Group bought Zulily for $2.4 billion in 2015, then sold the brand in May 2023 to a Los Angeles-based investment firm. Beyond then bought the defunct company’s brand assets and intellectual property for $4.5 million in 2024

KNS International, a private equity-backed e-commerce company, acquired Birdies in March. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Birdies co-founder Bianca Gates will join KNS as brand president. Birdies is primarily a DTC company with limited distribution through wholesale and marketplace partnerships. The brand’s footwear lineup includes flats, slides, sneakers and sandals. 

Gates said the partnership will enable Birdies, which was founded in 2015, to grow in a way that resonates with its target customers.

Walgreens entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by private equity firm Sycamore Partners for $11.45 per share in cash. The take-private deal gives the company an equity value of around $10 billion. Shareholders could earn another $3 per share based on a potential sale of primary care chain VillageMD. 

Walgreens’ share price has plummeted over the past decade as it faced lower prescription reimbursements and increased retail competition. 

“Sycamore will provide us with the expertise and experience of a partner with a strong track record of successful retail turnarounds,” CEO Tim Wentworth said in a statement.

Feb. 24

Beyond, Inc. said in late February it completed its previously announced deal to acquire the global rights of the Buy Buy Baby brand for $5 million. The deal includes databases, domains, intellectual property and vendor relationships.

“We believe bringing these two iconic brands, Bed Bath & Beyond and Buy Buy Baby, back together significantly strengthens our customer proposition in key life stage shopping moments,” Marcus Lemonis, principal executive officer of Beyond, said in a statement.

Feb. 3

Beyond Inc. agreed to buy the global rights to the BuyBuy Baby brand for $5 million in February. The deal reunites BuyBuy Baby with its former corporate parent, Bed Bath & Beyond, which is owned by Beyond, alongside Overstock and Zulily. It was the second time in less than two years that a new owner bought BuyBuy Baby. 

The brand came into Bed Bath & Beyond’s hands in 2007. After Bed Bath & Beyond’s 2023 bankruptcy, Dream on Me bought BuyBuy Baby’s intellectual property and about a dozen store leases, which later closed. The latest deal may bring BuyBuy Baby-branded products to Bed Bath & Beyond stores, or its own stand-alone locations, through a partnership with Kirkland’s.

Wrangler and Lee parent company Kontoor Brands announced in February that it would acquire outdoor brand Helly Hansen from Canadian Tire Corporation for $900 million. The deal, which was financed by a combination of cash on hand and new debt financing, closed on June 2.

Helly Hansen is expected to generate more than $680 million in revenue in 2025. Kontoor said the brand brings a more affluent and younger shopper to the company and offers other “diversification benefits.”

“The acquisition of Helly Hansen will increase our growth profile, drive greater category, channel and geographic diversification, and increase our penetration in the attractive outdoor and workwear markets,” Kontoor Brands CEO Scott Baxter said in a statement.

Tapestry agreed to sell Stuart Weitzman to Caleres in a $105 million cash deal. Caleres CEO Jay Schmidt said Stuart Weitzman will become a lead brand in its portfolio. Caleres owns Famous Footwear, Sam Edelman and Allen Edmonds.

Tapestry bought Stuart Weitzman in 2015 for about $530 million. The brand represented about 3% of Tapestry’s total sales.

As part of a bankruptcy filing, Party City Holdco’s wholesale operations and intellectual property are set to be acquired for $20 million by New Amscan, an affiliate of manufacturer, producer and distributor Ad Populum. New Amscan was named the stalking horse bidder in the court supervised auction. 

Amscan is a wholesale manufacturer and supplier of balloons, costumes and other party products. Ad Populum, which owns Chia Pet and The Clapper, said it would use its souring and distribution resources to transform the Party City and Amscan brands.

Affiliates of Sun Capital Partners sold a majority stake in Vince Holding Corp. to retail innovation firm P180 in January.

Through the deal, former Vince CEO and P180 co-founder Brendan Hoffman returned to the brand as CEO in early February. Hoffman previously led Vince from 2015 to 2020.

The deal also sparked changes to Vince’s board: David Stefko, who had been serving as interim CEO, returned to his position on the board, while Matthew Garff resigned from the board.

Private equity firm Acon Investments announced it bought a controlling stake in True Religion in January. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Following the deal, True Religion will continue to operate independently and remain headquartered in California. Acon worked alongside consulting firm SB360 on the deal, and they hope to “accelerate True Religion’s further growth” through expanding its product offerings and reach.

Acon's portfolio also includes Spirit Halloween, Spencer's Gifts and Funko.

Reebok Design Group and U.S. operations for the athletics company were acquired by Galaxy Universal the week of Jan. 6, according to Ivy Solari, vice president of digital commerce at Reebok. 

Under new ownership, Solari said the company is, “looking forward to opening some more full-price or experiential stores.” 

Sparc Group, which operated Reebok in the U.S., divested the athletics company as it joined J.C. Penney in a joint venture dubbed Catalyst Brands.

Marquee Brands acquired Laura Ashley from Gordon Brothers at the start of 2025. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, and as part of the terms Laura Ashley’s U.K.-based team will remain in place. Marquee also serves as a brand owner, licensor, marketer and media company for a portfolio of labels including Martha Stewart, Sur La Table, BCBG, Destination Maternity, A Pea in The Pod and Dakine.

“We are primed and ready to leverage Laura Ashley’s seven-decade legacy to unlock its future potential as a full lifestyle brand innovating new products and categories, offering unique collaborations and engaging multi-generational audiences in key markets worldwide,” Heath Golden, CEO of Marquee Brands, said in a statement.

Big Lots on Dec. 27 announced that it agreed to a strategic sale transaction with Gordon Brothers Retail Partners, which allows the transfer of Big Lots assets, including stores, distribution centers and intellectual property, to other companies. 

The move comes after Big Lots’ failed deal with an affiliate of private equity firm Nexus Capital Management in November 2024. The retailer in December announced going-out-of-business sales at all of its stores in an effort to protect the value of its assets while it sought other sale options. 

Variety Wholesalers, which owns more than 400 stores including the Roses and Bargain Town banners, said it intends to buy between 200 and 400 Big Lots stores and up to two distribution centers and operate them under the Big Lots banner. The deal with Gordon Brothers and Variety Wholesalers closed on Jan. 3, 2025.

"Variety is thrilled to officially welcome the Big Lots brand and looks forward to operating hundreds of Big Lots store locations,” Variety Wholesalers' President and CEO Lisa Seigies said in a statement upon the closing of the deal. “This strategic acquisition allows us to serve additional customers and communities. We plan to combine the best of Variety with the best of Big Lots and are excited about the possibilities ahead."

Jonathan Adler in late 2024 was acquired by Consortium Brand Partners, in partnership with fashion brand management firm American Exchange Group. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The brand’s founder, Jonathan Adler, will continue to serve as chief creative officer.

Consortium Brand Partners previously acquired DTC activewear brand Outdoor Voices in 2024 and bought a 70% stake in Reese Witherspoon’s Draper James brand in 2023.

Dec. 23, 2024

Saks Global finalized its acquisition of Neiman Marcus Group for $2.7 billion, on Dec. 23. The deal brings a handful of luxury retailers under one corporate roof, including Saks Fifth Avenue, Saks Off Fifth, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman.

At the same time, the company also announced several leadership changes.

Saks CEO Marc Metrick became CEO of Saks Global Operating Group and Ian Putnam was named CEO of Saks Global Properties & Investments. Both report to Richard Baker, Saks Global’s executive chairman. Tracy Margolies was also named president of Bergdorf Goodman, which will remain a stand-alone business.

July 4, 2024

HBC, owner of luxury America department store Saks Fifth Avenue, off-price retailer Saks Off 5th and Canadian department store Hudson’s Bay, on July 4 said it reached an agreement to acquire rival U.S. luxury retail company Neiman Marcus Group for $2.65 billion.

Neiman Marcus Group runs upscale department stores Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman; the company earlier this year ended a partnership with luxury e-commerce company Farfetch.

Once the transaction closes, HBC plans to house Saks Fifth Avenue, Saks Off 5th, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman into an entity dubbed “Saks Global” apart from the Canadian department store business.

May 20, 2025

The Nordstrom family completed their bid to take the company private in May. Family members teamed up with Mexican department store conglomerate El Puerto de Liverpool to acquire all the stock they didn’t already own for $24.25 per share. The family has a majority stake.

Brothers Erik and Pete Nordstrom at the time became co-chief executives of the department store launched by their great-grandfather, which delisted from the New York Stock Exchange as of May 21.

Dec. 23, 2024

Almost seven years after failing in their attempt to take Nordstrom private, Erik, Pete and Jamie Nordstrom, as well as other members of the founding family, succeeded in the waning days of 2024. Along with Mexican retail conglomerate El Puerto de Liverpool, the Nordstroms earlier in the year had offered $3.8 billion, and they sealed the deal in December for about $6.25 billion.

Financed through a combination of rollover equity by the Nordstrom family and Liverpool; cash commitments by Liverpool; up to $450 million in borrowings under a new $1.2 billion ABL bank financing; and the company’s cash on hand, the Nordstroms and Liverpool acquired all outstanding common shares they didn’t already own and the family retained a 50.1% stake. John W. Nordstrom launched the business as a shoe store in Seattle nearly 125 years ago.

Jan. 16, 2025

WHP Global completed its acquisition of Vera Wang’s intellectual property on Jan. 16. WHP Global’s portfolio includes more than 14 brands that collectively generate over $7 billion in global retail sales.

Dec. 16, 2024

WHP Global in December announced it would acquire the intellectual property of Vera Wang for an undisclosed amount. The deal is expected to close in January 2025.

Founder and Chief Creative Officer Vera Wang will stay on in her current role and will become a shareholder in WHP Global. The brand joins other fashion labels in WHP’s portfolio, including Bonobos, Joe’s Jeans, Rag & Bone and Express.

“Together, we will push boundaries, exploring bold opportunities to expand into new categories and markets, all while staying true to the legacy of timeless sophistication and the distinctive style that defines Vera Wang,” Wang said in a statement at the time. 

A little over three years after acquiring Remix for more than $28 million, ThredUp unloaded most of its stake in the European resale site for 1 euro, or about a dollar. The deal is a management buyout led by Remix General Manager Florin Filote; ThredUp is retaining a 9% stake.

The U.S. resale site in August said it was exploring strategic alternatives for its European acquisition. Ahead of closing its deal with Filote, ThredUp provided a cash investment of $2 million to help Remix fund its operations, per financial filings.

After filing for bankruptcy in September, a Delaware bankruptcy court approved the sale of Tupperware to a group of its lenders, including Stonehill Capital Management Partners and Alden Global Capital, for $23.5 million in cash and $63 million in debt to be swapped for ownership, the company said in an October press release. 

The deal closed at the end of November and Tupperware became a privately held company. The new owners, dubbed Party Products, said they plan to run the company “with a start-up mentality.”

Dec. 16, 2024

Helen of Troy in mid-December announced its deal to acquire nail care brand Olive & June has closed.

“We are very excited to complete the acquisition of Olive & June, which complements our existing Beauty portfolio, broadens us beyond the Hair category, and adds a consumables business that is both high growth and high margin,” Helen of Troy CEO Noel Geoffroy said in a statement. “This is a great example of us executing our strategic goal of Continuing Better Together M&A.”

Helen of Troy expects Olive & June to produce about $92 million in net sales for the 2024 calendar year and for the deal to be “immediately accretive to Helen of Troy’s revenue growth rate, gross profit margin, adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted diluted EPS growth rate and free cash flow conversion.”

Nov. 12, 2024

Helen of Troy in late November announced it had entered into an agreement to acquire nail care brand Olive & June for $240 million. The deal is expected to close by the end of the year.

Olive & June is expected to operate as a stand-alone business, and founder and CEO Sarah Gibson Tuttle will remain with the company.

Olive & June joins other brands within Helen of Troy’s portfolio, which include Hydro Flask, OXO, Drybar, Osprey and Vicks.

DTC mattress brand Casper Sleep in October became a subsidiary of Carpenter Co., a manufacturer of polyurethane foams.

“Carpenter will assist Casper on a comprehensive growth and profitability strategy, as well as the appropriate future channels to market,” Carpenter said in an announcement.

Casper in early 2020 entered the public markets after filing for an initial public offering. But about two years later, private equity firm Durational Capital Management acquired the brand, taking Casper private once more.

Dec. 30, 2024

Tractor Supply on Dec. 30 said it has closed on its acquisition of online pet pharmacy Allivet, a deal first announced in October. Allivet, which was founded in 1992, is licensed in all 50 states and runs three distribution centers that enable next-day delivery in much of the U.S.

Oct. 24. 2024

Tractor Supply on Oct. 24 said it has inked a deal to acquire online pet pharmacy Allivet, a longtime partner. The acquisition will expand the retailer’s total addressable market by $15 billion and is expected to close in Q1.

The retailer has sought growth beyond the country’s most rural communities and has long catered to not just farm animals but also household pets. Already, pet owners account for about 75% of its loyalty membership. In addition to its 2,270 namesake stores, the company runs 205 Petsense by Tractor Supply stores.

Havenly Brands — which has a portfolio that includes The Citizenry, Interior Define, St. Frank and The Inside — acquired DTC furniture brand Burrow for an undisclosed amount.

Burrow, which launched in 2017, became known for its flat-pack, modular sofas and chairs.

“Burrow’s innovative approach to design, in-home furniture delivery and functionality helped reinvent the way people furnish their homes, making it a natural fit for the Havenly family,” Lee Mayer, CEO of Havenly Brands, said in a statement. “Burrow fills a unique gap in the market and within our portfolio.

Beyond Inc. on Oct. 15 announced an investment of $40 million in The Container Store through a strategic partnership.

The deal is contingent on shareholder approval and will also require The Container Store to refinance or amend its borrowing terms with lenders. The Container Store plans to issue 40,000 shares of a new stock series at $17.25 to Beyond, which would give that company a 40% stake.

In a joint announcement, Beyond, whose brand portfolio includes Bed Bath & Beyond, Overstock and Zulily, said it will offer a global loyalty program through The Container Store’s physical and online stores and integrate The Container Store’s custom spaces product lines across its e-commerce banners.  

The companies said The Container Store will join Beyond’s data platform and focus on improving conversion and traffic while reducing customer acquisition and retention costs. The Container Store will also showcase spaces for Bed Bath & Beyond’s kitchen, bath and bedroom assortment

The Aaron’s Company in October completed a previously announced deal to take the company private. IQVentures Holdings acquired the company for an enterprise value of $504 million. 

Aaron’s financial performance ahead of the acquisition was soft. The company’s full-year revenue for 2023 fell nearly 5% to $2.14 billion and for the most recent quarter ending June 30, Aaron’s reported revenues of $503 million, down 5.1% from $530 million the prior year.

Founded in 1955, Aaron’s offers leasing and purchasing of appliances, electronics, furniture and other home goods. In addition to its namesake banner, the company’s portfolio includes BrandsMart U.S.A., BrandsMart Leasing and Woodhaven, a furniture manufacturing division. At the time of the deal, Aaron’s operated 1,210 owned and franchised stores in 47 states and Canada.

Investment firm Go Global on Oct. 1 acquired upscale maternity brand Hatch, which will be run by another brand in its portfolio, premium children’s apparel retailer Janie and Jack, for an undisclosed amount. The two brands will be aligned to some extent in stores and online.

Hatch founder Ariane Goldman had previously operated Hatch in North America alongside rival maternity apparel retailers Motherhood Maternity, A Pea in the Pod and Destination Maternity, under a portfolio known as Hatch Collective. Those lines are owned by Marquee Brands and are not part of Go Global’s deal. At the time of the acquisition, Go Global and Janie and Jack were still working on what role, if any, Goldman would have.

LVMH sold the company that owns the Off-White brand to brand management company Bluestar Alliance. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. LVMH acquired a majority stake in Off-White in 2021.

Bluestar Alliance owns, manages and markets a portfolio of brands including Hurley, Nanette Lepore and Limited Too.

In a deal with 65 Equity Partners that gives the private equity firm a “significant minority” stake, founder Kendra Scott will retain a majority stake in her eponymous accessories brand Kendra Scott Design, Inc. The new investment, for an undisclosed amount, will go toward expanding the brand into new categories and new geographies, including internationally.

HPS Investment Partners and Belzberg & Co co-invested with 65 Equity Partners in the transaction, which “fully redeems the preferred stock investments held by Berkshire Partners and Norwest Venture Partners,” the companies said.

Outdoor gear retailer Backcountry in September was acquired by CSC Generation Enterprise. Terms of the deal, which include Backcountry’s brand portfolio of MotoSport, Competitive Cyclist and Steep and Cheap, were not disclosed.

Backcountry CEO Melanie Cox said the deal will enable the retailer to expand its market presence. In addition to an online store, Backcountry had nine physical retail locations at the time of the deal. Backcountry will continue operating under its own brand name. The deal expands CSC's portfolio to more than 10 brands.

Oct. 1, 2024

F9 Investments completed its acquisition of LL Flooring Holdings on Oct. 1. LL Flooring said it was continuing to work with Hilco on store closing sales at the remaining locations that were not part of the deal with F9 Investments. 

“This marks the start of a new chapter for LL Flooring and we are working closely with F9 Investments to ensure a seamless transition for our customers,” said CEO Charles Tyson. 

Sept. 6, 2024

Lumber Liquidators, which filed for Chapter 11 protection in bankruptcy court in Delaware in August, announced in September it would remain a going concern, having reached an agreement with F9 Investments.

Under the deal, the private equity firm will acquire 219 LL Flooring locations — about half the stores the retailer operated at the time of its filing — along with intellectual property and other assets. A distribution center in Sandston, Virginia is also part of the deal.

U.K. retailer Mountain Warehouse on Sept. 2 said it had inked a deal to acquire Eastern Mountain Sports, which filed Chapter 11 in June. Mountain Warehouse said it would pay $5 million for the New England retailer’s brand, website and seven profitable stores – its stalking horse bid ahead of a bankruptcy auction – and another $5 million for other assets.

It’s a reprieve for the 57-year-old outdoor gear retailer, which will continue to operate under the Eastern Mountain Sports name, with its existing buying team remaining in the U.S., per an emailed press release from Mountain Warehouse. The deal saves more than 100 jobs related to the EMS business, the company said.

Steve Madden sold the assets of sneaker brand Greats to Unified Commerce Group for an undisclosed sum. Through the deal, UCG will assume operational responsibility of the brand, while Steve Madden (through a subsidiary) will become one of UCG’s shareholders.

Greats marked the third brand within UCG’s portfolio at the time, alongside Spiritual Gangster and Frank and Oak.

Global apparel company Lolë Brands acquired footwear brand Sanuk from Deckers on Aug. 15. 

Deckers said in July that it had reached a deal to divest Sanuk but the company didn’t provide additional information. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Katie Pruitt, who was previously Sanuk’s brand director at Deckers, will continue to lead the brand at Lolë as vice president and general manager, according to a press release. 

Both brands, Lolë said, “share a commitment to responsibly produced, innovative and stylish designs.” With Sanuk under new ownership, the brand will receive a renewed investment “to build on its core strengths, such as unique, consumer-centric products and marketing.” Lolë also  acquired athleisure brand Époque Évolution last year.

Under Armour announced its acquisition of Unless Collective on Aug. 6, with the deal expected to close later that week. Unless Collective, which bills itself as a zero-plastic regenerative fashion brand, was founded by 26-year Adidas veteran Eric Liedtke in 2020.

Liedtke is joining Under Armour as part of the acquisition and will continue to lead Unless, as well as taking on a position as Under Armour’s executive vice president of brand strategy.

Lord & Taylor’s intellectual property in August was snapped up by Regal Brands Global for an undisclosed amount. The IP has changed hands a few times this year, after previous owner Saadia Group defaulted on more than $45 million in debt. 

Saadia Group came into possession of Lord & Taylor after acquiring its then-owner, Le Tote, in 2020 for $12 million; Le Tote had purchased Lord & Taylor in 2019 for $75 million. This year, before the Regal Brands acquisition of Lord & Taylor, the department store’s various trademarks, domains and IP were purchased for $1.5 million by an entity called ADJHA LT, affiliated with Harry Adjmi, founder of apparel wholesale company One Step Up. A spokesperson for Regal Brands’ investor Parkrise Capital said Adjmi is not affiliated with the company.

EssilorLuxottica acquired the Supreme brand from VF Corp. for $1.5 billion in a deal that is expected to close by the end of 2024. VF originally bought Supreme in 2020 for around $2.1 billion. 

EssilorLuxottica is the owner of Sunglass Hut, Ray-Ban and Oakley. It manufactures licensed eyewear for Diesel, Prada, Ralph Lauren, Chanel, Coach and Burberry.

A consortium of investors led by Auréa Group, whose portfolio is centered on DTC beauty brands, will take over The Body Shop following a competitive bidding process that was part of the retailer’s U.K. administration, akin to Chapter 11 in the U.S.

Terms were not disclosed but the deal is expected to close shortly. The Body Shop, founded in the 1970s with an eco-friendly focus, has struggled for years under various owners. This year, the retailer filed for bankruptcy in the U.S., where it is liquidating, and Canada, where it remains open for business.

WSG Brands announced in July that it acquired fashion and lifestyle brand Von Dutch for an undisclosed amount. Under its new ownership, the brand will be led by Jack Cheika and Marc Benitez, WSG’s CEO and COO. 

“WSG will ensure that each Von Dutch piece — from classic trucker hats to its spirited, rebellious ready-to-wear — will stay true to the authenticity and heritage of Von Dutch as a symbol of dynamic self-expression and bold individuality,” the brand management firm said in a statement.

Mexican-based retailer Gonher will acquire most of Sam Ash Music’s assets for $15.2 million. Court documents show Gonher will acquire Sam Ash’s merchandise — excluding its store closing sale assets — its assumed leases, intellectual property elements, trademarks, internet domain names, social media accounts, marketing materials and customer data. 

Sam Ash filed for Chapter 11 in May after 100 years in business and previously said it plans to close all of its retail stores. At that time, Sam Ash operated 42 stores in 16 states. 

FullBeauty Brands on June 18 picked up its fourth acquisition in just over a year, this time adding legacy plus retailer Avenue. The company has signed a definitive agreement to buy Avenue Stores for an undisclosed amount from Australian retail company City Chic Collective.

City Chic itself in 2020 acquired Avenue’s digital business after the retailer’s 2019 Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which entailed closing all stores. Avenue and its brands will be added to FullBeauty’s digital mall, which also includes plus and inclusive apparel retailers Catherines, Dia, Eloquii and intimates brand Cuup.

Apparel retailer Express was acquired by Phoenix Retail, a joint venture involving WHP Global and mall owners Simon Property Group, Brookfield Properties and Centennial. The bankruptcy court approved the move on June 14. Phoenix Retail will pay about $174 million for Express Inc., which includes the Bonobos banner. The deal is expected to keep over 450 physical stores open and nearly 7,000 people employed.

Business casual-focused retailer Express filed for Chapter 11 in April.

Sept. 30, 2024

HanesBrands on Sept. 30 completed the sale of the intellectual property and certain operating assets of Champion to Authentic Brands Group, according to a company press release. With the sale, HanesBrands reiterated it expects to pay down around $1 billion in debt. 

“Today marks a major milestone on our journey to strengthen and simplify our business and is the culmination of a significant team effort to position HanesBrands on the optimal path for the future,” HanesBrands CEO Steve Bratspies said in a statement.

June 5, 2024

Authentic Brands Group signed a deal to acquire Champion from HanesBrands in a deal valued at $1.2 billion. Authentic stated it will convert Champion into a licensed model. Part of Champion’s design, production and distribution in North America was previously licensed to G-III Apparel Group. 

HanesBrands expects to earn around $900 million in net proceeds from the deal, which it will use to pay down debt.

Consortium Brand Partners announced it acquired Outdoor Voices for an undisclosed amount in June. The firm, which bought Reese Witherspoon’s Draper James brand in 2023 said it plans to open new Outdoor Voices stores and expand the brand into adjacent product categories, such as swimwear, outerwear and fitness equipment. International expansion is also on the horizon.

Outdoor Voices abruptly shuttered its 15-store footprint in March. Asked whether or not founder Tyler Haney will be involved in the company, and who will be leading the brand post-acquisition, Consortium Brand Partner’s co-founder and Managing Partner Cory Baker said Katie Siano will remain in her position as Outdoor Voices president.

Dollar Tree Inc. acquired intellectual property rights in North America for 99 Cents Only, along with designation rights for 170 stores in Arizona, California, Nevada and Texas. 

After over 40 years of operation, California-based 99 Cents Only filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy with plans to close all 371 of its stores. Dollar Tree didn’t immediately say what it plans to do with 99 Cents Only’s IP. However, the retailer did confirm it planned to convert the 99 Cents Only stores it bought to the Dollar Tree banner.

Private equity company 2.0 Ventures took a majority stake in DTC apparel brand Feat Clothing. 

Through the deal, Feat Clothing co-founder and CEO Taylor Offer exited his leadership role, while remaining a board member.

While financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, Feat’s current team of seven employees, product offerings and distribution channels will remain unchanged.

Investors in Retail Ecommerce Ventures have taken over the REV portfolio, which includes Bodybuilding.com, Pier 1.com, DressBarn.com, Mentorbox.com, and owns the intellectual property of Modell’s Sporting Goods, Franklin Mint, SteinMart, Linens-N-Things and Ralph & Russo. The new parent company, Omni, closed the deal during the first quarter of the year for an undisclosed amount, per a press release.

The takeover doesn’t include RadioShack, which as of last year is majority-owned by Unicomer Group. REV co-founders Tai Lopez and Alex Mehr are not involved in Omni.

REV had specialized in taking over the IP of distressed retailers and operating them online. Amid rumors of REV’s financial struggles, some observers had expected a bankruptcy filing. Instead, Omni is in discussions to potentially take over other brands as well, many of which are online only.

July 25, 2024

JD Sports completed its acquisition of Hibbett Inc. on July 25. Hibbett is no longer a separate publicly traded company. In an announcement, Hibbett said Mike Longo will stay on as CEO and Jared Briskin will become chief operating officer. The company will keep its corporate headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama.

April 23, 2024

U.K.-based JD Sports announced its plans to buy Alabama-based athletic retailer Hibbett Inc. for $1.1 billion in April. The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2024, subject to regulatory approvals.

JD Sports CEO Régis Schultz described Hibbett’s store footprint as “highly complementary” and said the deal will provide a stronger platform for JD’s expansion in the U.S. 

JD Sports had 3,313 stores globally as of March 2. Its portfolio includes more than 20 brands, including Finish Line and Shoe Palace, which it previously acquired. Hibbett also owns City Gear and Sports Additions.

West Lane Capital Partners has acquired Mented Cosmetics for an undisclosed amount. Through the deal, Mented gains access to West Lane’s resources, which will allow the beauty brand to grow its business and continue its distribution.

West Lane will help the beauty brand launch new products as well. At the time of the acquisition, a message on Mented’s home page indicated the brand would relaunch in the summer.

Billy Reid in April announced it would acquire Knot Standard’s DTC business, including its website and eight stores in major cities like Chicago and San Francisco. As part of the deal, the stores will be rebranded, giving Billy Reid 20 locations nationwide. Knot Standard’s sales associates and management team will join the fashion retailer as well, and Knot Standard will be a minority shareholder in the combined business.

Knot Standard’s AI made-to-measure software will remain a separate business, and the tech will be used in all of Billy Reid’s locations. The deal allows Billy Reid to relaunch its made-to-measure business, which was discontinued during the pandemic. The fashion retailer hopes to increase brand awareness through the deal, noting that the brands share a similar price point, customer, and retail and real estate footprint.

Designer Brands announced on June 4 that it acquired 28 Rubino footwear stores in Canada during the first quarter. The move is expected to expand Designer Brands’ market share, the company said.

Additionally, the acquisition gives Designer Brands a presence for the first time in Quebec, CEO Doug Howe said during a recent earnings call. Howe said Rubino stores offer similar atmospheres and assortments to stores operated by Designer Brands. 

Howe said the company will continue to operate the stores under the Rubino banner, believing there's an opportunity to “add value by offering our own brands in their stores,” he said on the call.

Inclusive fashion company FullBeauty Brands in April acquired online size-inclusive marketplace Dia & Co for an undisclosed sum. 

Alongside the deal, Dia co-founder Lydia Gilbert and other key Dia marketplace employees will join FullBeauty Brands, according to a company press release. Gilbert will manage Dia’s styling division. 

“We are excited to welcome Dia to the FullBeauty Brands family, which we believe will further our leading position in size-inclusive fashion and as the one-stop destination for great fitting, quality, on-trend, size-inclusive apparel,” CEO Jim Fogarty said in a statement. “As we look to grow and scale, Dia will vastly increase brand offerings in our digital mall, and we are excited to bring the unique personal styling experience to all of our customers.”

Just two years after acquiring the brand, L’Occitane Group in early April announced it sold a controlling majority stake in Grown Alchemist to André Hoffmann for 28 million euros (about $30.2 million at the time). Hoffmann was L’Occitane Group’s former vice chairman and CEO and currently sits on the beauty conglomerate’s board.

Through the deal, Grown Alchemist gains “increased business agility,” giving it room to accelerate its international growth in markets like North America and China, and focus on large-scale partnerships.

June 18, 2024

The Home Depot completed its acquisition of SRS Distribution for $18.25 billion. SRS serves professional roofing, landscaping and pool contractors. 

Home Depot said the deal enables it to grow its business with professional customers. 

“SRS is an excellent fit for The Home Depot – it's both complementary and additive to our growth,” Home Depot CEO Ted Decker said in a statement. He added that SRS’ ability to build leadership positions in its specialty trade verticals reflects the team’s strong leadership and execution. Home Depot said the acquisition will increase the company’s total addressable market to about $1 trillion, a $50 billion increase.

March 28, 2024

The Home Depot in March said it plans to acquire building materials supplier SRS Distribution for about $18 billion. Acquiring SRS will enable Home Depot to boost its business with professional customers, the retailer said. Under the terms of the deal, which is subject to regulatory approval, a Home Depot subsidiary will acquire SRS and that company’s leadership team will remain in place post-merger.

Texas-based SRS generated about $10 billion in revenue in 2023. At the time of the announcement, it had a sales force of over 2,500 people, 760 branches in 47 states operating under local brands and job site delivery capabilities supported by a fleet of 4,000 trucks.

Overstock and Bed Bath & Beyond parent company, Beyond Inc., acquired Zulily’s intellectual property and other brand assets for $4.5 million. Assets include Zulily’s website and domain names, trademarks, a customer database, social media accounts and website software. The deal excludes all of Zulily’s liabilities, liens and debts. 

Zulily ceased operations at the end of 2023 after laying off hundreds of employees. 

Ashley Home closed on an agreement to acquire Resident Home, the owner of mattress and bedding brands Nectar, DreamCloud, Awara and Siena in March.

As part of the deal, Resident Home co-founders and co-CEOs Eric Hutchinson and Ran Reske will remain in their roles. A focus of the deal is to expand Resident Home’s global footprint and home furnishings assortment.

Menswear brand Rowing Blazers sold a majority stake of its business to investment firm Burch Creative Capital. Tom Vellios, co-founder of Five Below, and Jason Epstein, partner at private equity firm Stonecourt Capital, are co-investing with BCC, whose other holdings include Tory Burch and Staud. Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.

Rowing Blazers founder Jack Carlson will remain with the company as creative director, and the deal will allow the brand to hire new positions, develop its womenswear line and grow its retail footprint.

Dec. 3, 2024

Walmart in December completed its acquisition of Vizio, following the designated waiting period under federal regulations. The deal will allow Walmart to better serve customers and improve its advertising capabilities.

“VIZIO has also expertly changed their business over time, like building and quickly scaling a profitable advertising business,” Seth Dallaire, chief growth officer at Walmart U.S., said in a statement. “Pairing it with Walmart Connect will be impactful and allow us to invest in our business even further on behalf of our customers.”

Vizio will operate separately from Walmart “for the foreseeable future” and CEO William Wang will continue to run the business, reporting to Dallaire.

Feb. 20, 2024

Walmart in February reached a deal to buy smart TV maker Vizio for $2.3 billion. In a Feb. 20 announcement, the retailer said the acquisition will give Walmart access to Vizio’s SmartCast operating system. That move will create new opportunities to connect with customers through media experiences and accelerate Walmart Connect, the company’s existing retail media network.

Walmart said its Connect closed-loop omnichannel media business grew 30% in 2023. Vizio’s platform has over 500 direct advertiser relationships and its Platform+ business, which consists primarily of its advertising business, accounts for most of Vizio’s gross profit, according to a press release.

April 3, 2024

Guess Inc. and WHP Global on April 3 announced that the companies had completed the acquisition of Rag & Bone.

Guess contributed $57.1 million to the purchase, along with contributions from WHP Global, according to a company press release. The retailer entered into an agreement with the lenders of its existing $150 million asset-based revolving credit facility to boost its borrowing capacity by $50 million, to a total of $200 million.

Feb. 16, 2024

Guess Inc. and WHP Global agreed to acquire Rag & Bone. Guess will pay $56.5 million to obtain the company’s operating assets, while Guess and WHP will both own Rag and Bone’s intellectual property through a joint venture.

Guess and the joint venture will enter a licensing agreement. It will give Guess the exclusive right to use Rag & Bone’s IP to manufacture its products globally and sell products in specified territories in exchange for Guess’ payment of a royalty fee.

Rag and Bone will operate as an independent fashion brand under the Guess portfolio.

Mithaq Capital, an investment firm based in Saudi Arabia, bought up a 54% stake in struggling children’s apparel retailer The Children’s Place, the companies disclosed Feb. 15.  The firm swiftly followed through on its offer to shore up the specialty retailer’s finances, pledging $78.6 million in interest-free, unsecured and subordinated term loans. 

This all came with a board shakeup: Four directors resigned, replaced by Mithaq nominees, one of whom will take over as chair after a transition period. The Children’s Place said it will use some of its new funds to address overdue accounts with vendors, some of which had begun to withhold goods and services.

Shoe Carnival announced it acquired Rogan’s Shoes for $45 million. 

Following the integration of Rogan’s Shoes into the company’s Shoe Station banner, which should take about 18 months, the combined banner sales are expected to pass $200 million by fiscal 2025. The deal will take the retailer’s store count to 429, keeping Shoe Carnival on track to achieve its target of operating over 500 stores by 2028, according to a company announcement. 

ContextLogic, which does business as Wish, on Feb. 12 said it had agreed to sell the online marketplace for about $173 million in cash to Singapore-based Qoo10, which operates localized marketplaces in Asia. The agreement was forged after “a thorough review of strategic alternatives with the assistance of outside financial and legal advisors,” according to a statement from ContextLogic Board Chairman Tanzeen Syed. 

ContextLogic previously revealed that it was exploring strategic alternatives, amid ongoing revenue declines and losses. Wish has been up against major rivals, including Temu, which have been growing faster and marketing to a similar audience, analysts have said. In 2023, the company resorted to layoffs of more than 250 employees, affecting 41% of its U.S. workforce and 26% of its international workforce.

Farfetch in December 2023 announced that it would be acquired by Coupang in a $500 million deal. The company said it would be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange and stated in a press release that holders of its Class A and B ordinary shares and convertible notes would “not recover any of their outstanding investments,” per a press release. Farfetch’s previous agreement with Compagnie Financière Richemont and Symphony Global to acquire a 47.5% stake in the Yoox Net-a-Porter platform was terminated. 

The deal closed on Jan. 31, 2024.

Dick’s Sporting Goods sold its Field & Stream retail business to a group including country music stars Eric Church and Morgan Wallen in January. Dick’s had been deprioritizing the banner in recent years, including shuttering that retailer’s remaining store footprint in 2023. The decision to sell it also came a few years after Dick’s launched a different outdoors concept, Public Lands.

With the sale, Field & Stream will also be reunited with the print magazine platform of the same name, which Church and Wallen acquired from Recurrent. The artists planned to relaunch the company with a membership community called the Field & Stream 1871 Club, as well as a refreshed digital platform. Plans are in the works for “strategic partnerships” and other “brand alignments,” including an online marketplace highlighting artisans and craft makers.

Doug McNamee, former president of Chip and Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia brand, was tapped to lead the retailer.

"We are committed to reinforcing Field and Stream's legendary status as the authoritative voice of the American outdoors," McNamee said in a statement. "We look forward to unifying our passionate enthusiasts under a single canopy as we steward this trusted brand toward a thoughtful and expansive revival. As the latest in the lineage of caretakers, we aim to restore and amplify Field & Stream's authentic voice with our extended storytelling family."

Wolverine World Wide sold its Sperry brand to Authentic and the Aldo Group. Authentic paid $70 million for the acquisition, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. 

Aldo Group will become Sperry’s North American operating partner for wholesale, e-commerce and store operations. 

The deal will bring approximately $130 million to Wolverine in its first quarter. Some of those funds will go toward paying down some of Wolverine’s debt.

Feb. 1, 2024

After initially proposing an IPO price between $16 and $18 per share, Amer Sports in February sold 105 million shares for $13 a share, raising about $1.37 billion in its public debut. The sale put its valuation at more than $6 billion, but lower than the $8.7 billion valuation it initially targeted. The company intends to use the net proceeds to repay all of its outstanding borrowing on its existing shareholder loans, as well as any additional proceeds to repay a portion of the borrowings on its revolving facility.

Jan. 4, 2024

Amer Sports, the company behind Wilson, Arc’teryx and other sports and apparel brands, filed for an initial public offering with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Jan. 4.

The number of shares to be offered and the price range for the IPO haven’t been determined. The company plans to list on the New York Stock Exchange under the stock symbol “AS.”

Amer Sports said in the SEC filing that effective implementation of a DTC strategy is key to the company’s continued growth. Amer Sports earned $3.5 billion in revenue in 2022, up from $2.4 billion in 2020.

Feb. 5, 2024

Shiseido announced in February that it closed on its deal to acquire DDG Skincare Holdings.

“Today’s milestone represents an exciting step toward our goal of becoming a leading personal beauty wellness company,” Ron Gee, Shiseido Americas president, CEO and global mergers and acquisitions leader for Shiseido Americas, said in a statement. “Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare’s leadership in clean, innovative and science-based formulations and its loyal consumer following make it the perfect addition to the Shiseido Americas portfolio, and we look forward to working with the team with a focus on accelerating the brand’s growth plans.”

Dec. 22, 2023

Dr. Dennis Gross skin care owner DDG Skincare Holdings is set to be acquired by Shiseido Americas Corporation, a subsidiary of Shiseido. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Shiseido said the acquisition will complement its existing portfolio of prestige brands, including Clé de Peau Beauté.

The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2024 and is subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions.

Unilever entered into an agreement to acquire hair care brand K18 for an undisclosed amount. K18 was founded in 2020.

The CPG giant said the acquisition helps it bolster its Unilever Prestige portfolio and increase its premium offerings. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2024.

Natura & Co. reached an agreement to sell The Body Shop to private equity group Aurelius. The beauty company will be sold for 207 million pounds (around $257 million at the time), with an earn-out of 90 million pounds. 

“With the sale of The Body Shop, we are taking another important step in Natura & Co.’s new development cycle to unlock significant value,” Fabio Barbosa, chief executive officer of Natura & Co., said in a statement. “Refocused, deleveraged and leaner, Natura & Co. will now be able to fully concentrate on its core relationship selling expertise in Latin America while also continuing the optimization of Avon International’s footprint and investing in initiatives and innovations that positively impact people and the planet.” 

Natura & Co.'s board authorized its management to explore strategic alternatives for The Body Shop earlier in 2023 amid declining sales.

Two furniture rental startups were acquired in November after Vesta inked a deal to acquire Fernish and Feather for an undisclosed amount.

Luxury interior design and staging firm Vesta said the deal represented “a significant milestone” for the company and allowed it to expand its reach to the mass market.

Vesta, Fernish and Feather will operate under the banner “Showroom,” serving customers in New York, Southern California, South Florida, the Bay Area and Seattle. It will also operate online nationally.

After upping its stake in the company, Amorepacific acquired beauty brand CosRx in October.

Amorepacific said it would acquire the 288,000 remaining shares from CosRx’s largest shareholder and related parties for 755.1 billion won (about $567.3 million at the time). The deal follows Amorepacific’s acquisition of 38.4% of CosRx’s shares in 2021. Amorepacific is now expected to own 93.2% of the company’s shares.

Amorepacific aims to accelerate its global expansion through collaborations with CosRx. Amorepacific’s portfolio includes other brands like Sulwhasoo, Laneige, Innisfree and Mamonde.

Unilever entered into an agreement to sell Dollar Shave Club to private equity firm Nexus Capital Management. Terms of the deal were not disclosed and it is expected to be finalized by the end of 2023.

Through the transaction, Unilever will keep 35% minority shareholding control in the men’s grooming and personal care brand. Unilever acquired the subscription-based shaving company in 2016 in what was reportedly a roughly $1 billion cash deal. Though Dollar Shave Club started off as a mainly DTC brand, it now sells at major retailers including Walmart and Target.

Children’s entertainment company Spin Master Corp. entered into an agreement to acquire toy brand Melissa & Doug for $950 million. 

The deal is expected to close during the first quarter of 2024 and Spin Master – which operates the brands Paw Patrol, Bakugan and more – is supporting it with about $450 million in balance sheet cash and $500 million in debt financing. Melissa & Doug generated $489 million in revenue during fiscal 2022 and could receive up to $150 million in extra contingent earnout consideration if certain financial targets are met for 2024 and 2025.

Instant Brands, which makes popular kitchen brands Corelle, Pyrex and Instant Pot, was sold to Centre Lane Partners. The private equity firm will acquire the company in two separate transactions, both of which are subject to regulatory approval and closing conditions in the U.S. and Canada. 

Instant Brands filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June 2023 and began to solicit offers to sell the business. 

“We believe our Company’s sale to Centre Lane Partners represents the best path forward for our customers, retail partners, suppliers and employees,” Instant Brands CEO Ben Gadbois  said in a statement.

Jan. 5, 2024
Sycamore on Jan. 5 announced the deal had closed, and that Chico’s brands would join KnitWell Group, a holding company formed last year. The unit already includes Ann Taylor, Loft and Talbots and provides services to plus-size specialist Lane Bryant; with Chico’s, the group does some $6 billion in annual sales.

Sept. 28, 2023

Private equity firm Sycamore Partners, which in 2019 failed despite many attempts to acquire Chico’s, on Sept. 28 finally won the women’s apparel retailer over with a $1 billion deal. 

Chico’s, which in addition to its namesake brand runs White House Black Market and intimates label Soma, sells through 1,258 U.S. stores, 58 franchise locations in Mexico, two domestic airport franchises and various websites. Sycamore’s portfolio includes several retail companies and brands, including Belk, Staples, Talbots and The Limited.

Molly Langenstein, Chico’s FAS CEO, hailed what she called Sycamore’s “outstanding record in the retail industry in partnering with management teams to help businesses reach even greater levels of success.”

Grocery delivery company Instacart in September made its Nasdaq debut, trading under the ticker symbol “CART.” The company filed plans to go public one month earlier.

The company priced its initial public offering at $30 per share, raising $660 million. Instacart’s share price of $30 valued the company at $9.9 billion on a fully diluted basis. That’s a fraction of the nearly $40 billion valuation it had in early 2021 at the height of the pandemic.

Footwear brand Birkenstock filed a registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for a proposed initial public offering in September.