Retailers of crafts products, casual footwear and pet supplies thrived as COVID-19 spread, and that made those brands attractive acquisition targets.

Hot retailers and brands in such categories as crafting, casual footwear and pet supplies were snapped up in some of the largest retail acquisitions of 2021. The Michaels Companies, which benefited from a surge in sewing and other crafts during the pandemic was acquired by private equity firm Apollo Global Management, clogs maker Crocs bought similar brand Hey Dude and pet toy and food e-retailer Bark took the “blank check company” route to going public by merging with Northern Star Acquisition Corp. Northern Star is a so-called Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) that raises money from investors in an IPO and then uses the funds to buy an existing company.

Not-so-hot results can also lead to acquisitions, as in the case of Adidas conceding that its 2006 acquisition of fellow sneaker brand Reebok did not work out. That led to the sale of Reebox to Authentic Brands Group LLC, a private equity-funded brand-management company that previously has acquired such troubled brands as Aeropostale, Brooks Brothers and Nine West.

Full list of retail mergers and acquisitions in 2021

North American Retail Acquisitions in 2021

Biggest Mergers and Acquisitions 2021

Company Acquired Buyer Price
Miachael’s Apollo Global Management Inc. $5 billion
The Frye Company (51% stake) Authentic Brands Group LLC Undisclosed
Modcloth Nogin Undisclosed
Bark Northern Star Acquisitions Corp. $427 million
Izod Authentic Brands Group LLC $233 million
Reebok Authentic Brands Group LLC $2.5 billion
Eurostar Foot Locker $750 million
Text Trading Co. Foot Locker $360 million
Spoonflower Shutterfly $225 million
Stamps.com Thoma Bravo $6.6 billion
Hey Dude Shoes Crocs $2.5 billion
Ouai Haircare Procter & Gamble Undisclosed
Babytuto Walmart Undisclosed
Closet Works The Container Store $21.5 million
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