Want more retail deals? Go deeper into our full database in the Axios Pro Deals Tracker.
Venture Capital
• Claim, a social shopping app, raised a $12m Series A. VMG Technology led, and was joined by Sequoia Capital, Susa Ventures and Lightbank. Go deeper
• La Vie, a France-based maker of plant-based pork and deli meats, raised €25m from Zintinus, Sparkfood and crowd funders. Go deeper
• StriveCloud, a Belgium-based customer loyalty gamification startup, raised $1.5m from Birdhouse Ventures, Fors VC, and Seeder Fund. Go deeper
• FlexFactor, a retail tech startup that provides payment recovery software, has raised a $16.8m Series A led by Bessemer Venture Partners. Go deeper
Private Equity
• IQVentures of Ohio acquired The Aaron's Co. (NYSE: AAN), an Atlanta-based lease-to-own retailer, for approximately $504m. Go deeper
• Epiris acquired U.K. pub operator Amber Taverns. Go deeper
• AmerCareRoyal, an Exton, Pa.-based foodservice supplier backed by HCI Equity Partners, acquired Mat-Pac, a Howell, N.J.-based provider of foodservice and sanitation products. Go deeper
• Buyers Edge Platform, a Waltham, Mass.-based provider of digital procurement software for restaurants, acquired Swedish purchasing analytics platform Parsly. BEP backers include Blackstone, General Atlantic and Morgan Stanley, while Parsley had raised VC funding from VNV Global. Go deeper
• Authentic Brands Group, backed by PE, completed its acquisition of Champion from Hanesbrands. The target's collegiate apparel business will continue under a new license to GearCo, which will be operated by Ames Watson with Fanatics as an investor. AMG Companies will manage Champion in the U.S. and Canada, along with BBC and Gildan. Go deeper
Public Offerings
• Zabka, a Poland-based convenience store chain owned by CVC Capital Partners, will raise around $1.6b after pricing its IPO at the top of its range. It's Warsaw's largest IPO in four years. Go deeper
Other
• Cannae Holdings (NYSE: CNNE) and KDSA Investment Partners agreed to acquire The Watkins Company, a maker of flavoring products. Go deeper
• Nikon (Tokyo: 7731) disclosed it holds a 5.1% stake in French eyewear maker EssilorLuxottica (Paris: EL). Go deeper
• Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund agreed to become a minority owner of British department store operator Selfridges. Go deeper
• VSP Vision agreed to buy optical retailer Eyemart Express from FFL Partners and Leonard Green & Partners. Go deeper
• Unilever (NYSE: UL) sold its Russian business to Arnest Group, a Russian maker of personal and household products. Go deeper
• Bernard Arnault's family and Red Bull are in joint talks to buy a majority stake in Paris FC. Go deeper
• Performance Food Group (NYSE: PFGC) completed its acquisition of Cheney Bros., a Riviera Beach, Fla.-based foodservice distributor, for $2.1 billion in cash. Go deeper
