1. Albertsons
Cerberus Capital Management, Schottenstein Real Estate Group, Lubert-Adler Partners, Klaff Realty and Kimco Realty Corp. came together earlier this year to buy multiple supermarket brands from SuperValu Inc. The private equity and real estate firms paid a total of $3.3 billion for the brands, now collectively known as New Albertsons Inc., but most of that funding came from debt, not equity.
2. Party City
When party supplies retailer Party City came on the market in the spring of 2012, Thomas H. Lee Partners paid $2.69 billion in equity for the chain.
3. Payless Shoe Source
Collective Brands Inc., which owns Payless ShoeSource among other brands, was struggling when Wolverine World Wide Inc, Golden Gate Capital Corp. and Blum Capital Partners agreed to pay approximately $1.791 billion for the company last May. The buyers financed the deal with more than $400 million in debt.
4. Savers Inc.
Leonard Green & Partners and TPG Capital invested $1.7 billion in thrift store chain Savers Inc. in June of 2012.
5. David's Bridal
It's a match! Clayton Dubilier & Rice Inc. was perfectly happy to pay $1.05 billion for wedding apparel seller David's Bridal in October 2012.
6. True Religion
True Religion Apparel is set to go off the market for $839 million. The sale, to TowerBrook Capital Partners, is currently pending closing.
7. Hot Topic
Sycamore Partners took teen apparel seller Hot Topic private in a $625.5 million deal announced this spring.
8. OneStopPlus
Online plus-size apparel retailer OneStopPlus, which also has a catalogue business, made the list of the biggest retail buyouts of 2012/2013 with a $525 million deal with Charlesbank Capital Partners and Webster Capital.
9. Steinway Musical Instruments
Private equity gian Kohlberg & Co. agreed to pay $450.3 million for Steinway Musical Instruments in July. The sale, which includes roughly $74 million in debt, is pending.
10. Things Remembered
Madison Dearborn Partners LLC picked up gifts retailer Things Remembered for $295 million in May 2012.
