The list: Despite an economic landscape that grew increasingly challenging throughout the year, several major deals took place in 2022. Here are the 12 most impactful ones:
Kroger announced plans to buy Albertsons in a deal that values the company at $24.6 billion. The combined company would have significant purchasing power to help it compete with Walmart, which accounts for 21.3% of US grocery sales, per Numerator. Kroger accounts for 10.2% and Albertsons 5.8%. However, the deal faces antitrust scrutiny as observers worry about the move’s potential to reduce competition and raise prices.
Estée Lauder outmaneuvered Kering to acquire Tom Ford. The $2.8 billion deal lets Estée Lauder control one of its biggest moneymakers and maintain its prestige beauty and fragrance dominance.
CommerceHub bought ChannelAdvisor in a deal aimed at expanding the reach of the two ecommerce solution providers. The combined company serves over 18,000 customers and offers a range of services including drop shipping, marketplace, digital advertising, and delivery management.
Victoria’s Secret announced plans to buy intimates direct-to-consumer (D2C) retailer Adore Me, a brand known for inclusive sizing and body positivity, for $400 million. The deal was one part of a broader push by Victoria’s Secret to overhaul its image.
South Korean tech giant Naver announced plans to buy recommerce marketplace Poshmark for $1.2 billion as it seeks to establish a presence in the US. Naver, which also owns Line and Wattpad, views the deal as an opportunity to expand its ecommerce presence and diversify its revenues.
Global health and hygiene brand Essity bought D2C intimates brand Knix at a $400 million valuation. The deal closed shortly after Knix surpassed the 2 million customer mark.
Signet agreed to acquire Blue Nile for $360 million in cash. The deal, which came on the heels of Signet’s $490 million purchase of Diamonds Direct in 2021, is aimed at bolstering the company’s bridal offerings and growing what it calls its “accessible luxury” portfolio.
Amazon plans to buy robot vacuum maker iRobot for $1.7 billion in an all-cash deal. The purchase, which is being reviewed by the FTC, would expand the ecommerce giant’s slate of smart home products.
Farfetch acquired a 47.5% stake in Yoox Net-a-Porter (YNAP) as part of its bid to become the dominant player in luxury ecommerce. Under the deal with current YNAP owner Richemont, investment firm Symphony Global will also receive a 3.2% stake, leaving the luxury ecommerce company without a majority owner. Richemont’s brands, which include Cartier, Chloé, and several luxury watchmakers, will adopt Farfetch’s ecommerce solutions and establish a presence on its site.
Pinterest acquired AI shopping platform The Yes for an undisclosed sum. The Yes uses AI to generate a personalized shopping feed based on an individual’s preferred brands, styles, and sizes. That makes it an ideal fit for Pinterest, which also uses AI to tailor content and product recommendations to users. When the deal closes, The Yes app and website will be shut down to focus on integrating the technology into Pinterest’s platform.
Inclusive apparel company Dia & Co. acquired plus-size luxury retailer 11 Honoré in a push to create the “ultimate destination for shopping across styles, brands, and price points in sizes 10-32.” While the retailer initially operated 11honore.com as a separate ecommerce site, it fully integrated the experiences a few months after the deal.
D2C intimates brand ThirdLove bought Kit Undergarments, the “cult favorite intimates brand” founded by celebrity stylists Jamie Mizrahi and Simone Harouche. The deal aims to help ThirdLove reach a younger demographic.
