Merger and acquisition activity in the retail sector continues to gain strength, according to a third quarter 2012 report from professional services firm PwC.
PwC estimates that third quarter acquisition volume for retail and consumer products companies valued at more than $50 million is up 60 percent compared to the same period a year ago. Private equity firms accounted for close to 30 percent of the overall acquisition volume. The figure includes the proposed $7.1 billion buyout of electronics chain Best Buy by founder Richard Shulze and partners.
Other big acquisition announcements in the third quarter were Clayton, Dubilier & Rice LLC’s purchase of majority interest in wedding dress chain David’s Bridal and a partnership of Johanna A Benckiser SE and BDT Capital Partners $1 billion investment in Peet’s Coffee & Tea.
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