According to data provided by research and consulting firm Dealogic, 2013 is shaping up to be one of the strongest years on record for private equity-led buyouts of retailers, with 12 deals announced year-to-date, totaling roughly $5.3 billion. Deal volume during the same period in 2012 was slightly higher, at $6.7 billion, but the number of deals was lower at nine versus this year’s 12. In fact, 12 is the highest number of deals annnounced during the period from January through July since 2008, Dealogic numbers show.
In the past 12 months, the largest deal by far, was Cerberus Capital Management-led purchase of New Albertsons Inc. from supermarket operator SuperValu Inc. for $3.3 billion. But when debt is taking out of the equation, Cerberus and partners’ investment in the retailer totaled only $100 million, a far cry from the $2.6 billion buyout of Party City by Thomas H. Lee Partners LP.
For an in-depth look at the biggest retail buyouts of 2012/2013, click through our slideshow.