December saw $2.78 billion worth of retail industry mergers and acquisitions (M&A), according to GlobalData.

The data platform’s deals database registered an increase of 127.7 per cent in the last month of 2019, compared to the previous month, although this represented a fall of 41.5 per cent compared to the previous 12-month average, which stood at $4.75 billion.

Europe emerged as the top region for the volume of retail industry M&A deals globally, followed by North America and Asia-Pacific.

Comparing deals value in different regions of the globe, North America held the top position, with total announced deals in the period worth $2.22 billion. The US also had the highest deal value at $2.19 billion.

The top country in terms of M&A deals activity in December was the US with 21 deals, followed by the UK with 10 and Australia with five.

In 2019 overall, retail M&A deals worth $57.94 billion were announced globally, marking a fall of 4.8 per cent year-on-year.

The top five retail industry deals of December 2019, tracked by GlobalData, were:

1. Asbury Automotive Group’s $1 billion asset transaction with Park Place Motorcars.
2. The $738.27 million acquisition of Diplomat Pharmacy by OptumRx.
3. Franchise Group’s $450 million acquisition of American Freight Group.
4. The $115.71 million acquisition of Lawson by KDDI.
5. Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation’s acquisition of Findel Education for $66.64 million.

Share Story: