Monthly M&A Roundup: August 2026 Brand Ownership Changes

August 4, 2026 is the day Electronic Arts stopped being a public company. A consortium led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, alongside Silver Lake and Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners, completed a $55 billion all-cash takeover that Reuters and CreditSights both describe as the largest leveraged buyout in history. Shareholders received $210 per share. EA Sports FC, Battlefield, The Sims, Apex Legends, and Madden NFL now answer to a sovereign wealth fund instead of Nasdaq traders.

That single closing overshadowed a busy month. Aon agreed to buy USI for $17.0 billion on August 31. Nvidia reportedly agreed to acquire Hugging Face for $12.9 billion on August 26. Charter Communications completed its Liberty Broadband and Cox transaction on August 20, creating the largest broadband and video company in the United States. On the consumer brand side, Samsonite agreed to acquire BÉIS on August 12, LVMH raised its Loro Piana stake to 94%, Essity bought Kenvue's Brazil feminine care business for $284 million, and Sazerac agreed to buy UK canned cocktail brand Au Vodka. We tracked every major brand-relevant deal announced or closing in August 2026. These are the ones that matter most for brand ownership watchers.

For July's deals, including Stripe and Advent's $53.4 billion bid for PayPal and Vertex's $10 billion Crinetics acquisition, see Monthly M&A Roundup: July 2026.

Electronic Arts Goes Private in $55 Billion Saudi-Led Buyout

Completed: August 4, 2026 Buyers: Public Investment Fund (PIF), Silver Lake, Affinity Partners Target: Electronic Arts Inc. (formerly Nasdaq: EA) Deal value: $55 billion ($210 per share in cash)

The largest leveraged buyout ever recorded closed on August 4, 2026, ten months after it was first announced on September 29, 2025. EA confirmed in an SEC filing that "as of July 30, 2026, all regulatory approvals required to complete the Merger have been obtained." The European Commission cleared the transaction on July 23, 2026, followed by a second EU sign-off under the bloc's foreign subsidy rules roughly a week later.

PIF controls approximately 93.4% of EA post-closing, per WCCFtech reporting. The deal is structured as a classic leveraged buyout: consortium equity, a rollover of PIF's existing roughly 10% pre-deal stake, and substantial acquisition debt layered onto EA's balance sheet. BBC News reported that PIF put $36 billion of equity into the deal and borrowed $20 billion from JPMorgan to close it, with EA taking on the debt.

The brand portfolio that changed hands: EA's filing lists the franchises now under PIF-led ownership: EA Sports FC, Battlefield, Apex Legends, The Sims, EA Sports Madden NFL, EA Sports College Football, Need for Speed, Dragon Age, Titanfall, and Plants vs. Zombies. In fiscal year 2025, EA posted GAAP net revenue of approximately $7.5 billion.

Why this matters for brand ownership: This is the second-largest acquisition in gaming history, behind only Microsoft's $69 billion purchase of Activision Blizzard. A foreign sovereign wealth fund now owns one of the most recognized portfolios of consumer gaming brands in the world. PIF is already a minority investor in Nintendo, so the fund's exposure to global gaming IP is now both deep and broad. EA has stated it will "maintain creative control," but the corporate owner behind some of the most played games on earth has fundamentally changed. EA's common stock has ceased trading and is delisted from Nasdaq.

For context on how sovereign and foreign buyers reshape consumer brand portfolios, see our coverage of Chinese companies buying Western brands and how brand acquisitions make and destroy stock value.

Aon Agrees to Acquire USI for $17.0 Billion

Announced: August 31, 2026 Buyer: Aon plc (NYSE: AON) Seller: KKR and other shareholders Status: Announced, pending regulatory review

Aon signed a definitive agreement to acquire USI Insurance Services from KKR for a total purchase price of $17.0 billion, the company announced on August 31. The deal builds on Aon's 2024 acquisition of NFP and establishes what Aon calls the leading platform in the U.S. middle-market insurance segment, a market worth more than $40 billion in annual premium.

USI Chairman and CEO Mike Sicard will become President of Aon plc and global CEO of Middle Market following the close. Aon expects $395 million in annual run-rate net adjusted EBITDA impact from revenue and cost synergies and says the transaction will be accretive to adjusted EPS in 2028.

Why it matters: This is an insurance brokerage deal, not a consumer brand deal. But it is the largest U.S. middle-market transaction announced in August and continues the consolidation of insurance distribution that has defined the sector since Marsh McLennan's 2024 acquisition of McGriff. KKR's exit from USI is also a notable private equity realization. The deal is subject to regulatory approval.

Nvidia Reportedly Agrees to Acquire Hugging Face for $12.9 Billion

Announced: August 26, 2026 (reported by The Information and Reuters) Buyer: Nvidia Corporation (Nasdaq: NVDA) Target: Hugging Face (private) Deal value: Approximately $12.9 billion Status: Reported agreement; not yet officially confirmed by Nvidia

Nvidia has agreed to buy Hugging Face for $12.9 billion, The Information reported on August 26, citing a person with knowledge of the deal. Reuters confirmed the report the same day. Hugging Face operates the most widely used platform for open-source AI models and datasets, where developers access, share, test, and deploy large language models.

The reported price is roughly 2.9 times the $4.5 billion valuation Hugging Face received in a 2023 funding round led by Alphabet's Google, which invested $235 million alongside Nvidia, Amazon, and others. Nvidia has also invested billions in Hugging Face separately.

Why it matters for brand ownership: Hugging Face is not a consumer brand, but it is one of the most important pieces of infrastructure in the AI ecosystem. If the deal closes, Nvidia would control both the chips that train most large AI models and the platform where many of those models are hosted and distributed. That vertical integration is exactly what antitrust regulators in the U.S. and EU have been scrutinizing across the AI stack. The deal would be one of Nvidia's largest acquisitions to date. As of August 31, Nvidia has not issued an official press release confirming the agreement.

Charter Completes Liberty Broadband and Cox Transaction

Completed: August 20, 2026 Buyer: Charter Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: CHTR) Targets: Liberty Broadband Corporation; Cox Communications Status: Completed

Charter closed its previously announced transaction with Cox Communications and its acquisition of Liberty Broadband on August 20, 2026. The combined transactions create what Charter calls the leading broadband and video company in the nation and the fastest growing mobile provider in its footprint.

Cox Enterprises and its subsidiaries now own approximately 26% of the combined entity's fully diluted shares outstanding. Charter issued the equivalent of just over 46 million Charter shares to a Cox Enterprises subsidiary. Approximately $12 billion of Cox debt and finance leases remain outstanding at Charter subsidiaries.

Under the Liberty Broadband terms, each holder of Liberty Broadband common stock received 0.236 of a share of Charter common stock per share held, with cash paid in lieu of fractional shares.

Why it matters: Spectrum, the consumer-facing brand under which Charter sells internet, TV, and mobile service, now sits inside a substantially larger company with Cox's regional cable operations folded in. The consumer brand does not change. The corporate ownership behind it does. This is one of the largest U.S. telecom consolidations since the AT&T and Discovery media unwind.

Apollo Takes Co-Controlling Stake in Atlantic Aviation at Nearly $10 Billion Valuation

Announced: Week of August 30, 2026 Buyer: Apollo Global Management Seller: KKR Valuation: Nearly $10 billion Status: Announced

Apollo Global Management acquired a significant interest in Atlantic Aviation from KKR, creating a co-controlling ownership structure that values the private aviation infrastructure company at nearly $10 billion. Atlantic Aviation operates fixed-base operator (FBO) facilities that provide fueling, hangaring, and terminal services for private aircraft.

This is the second major August exit for KKR, following the USI sale to Aon. Private aviation infrastructure has been a quiet consolidation target as private and business flying demand has stayed above pre-2020 levels.

Victory Capital to Acquire First Eagle Investments for $7 Billion

Announced: Week of August 30, 2026 Buyer: Victory Capital Holdings Target: First Eagle Investments Deal value: Approximately $7 billion Status: Announced

Victory Capital agreed to acquire First Eagle Investments in a transaction valued at approximately $7 billion, creating a significantly larger global asset-management business. The deal continues the consolidation of mid-tier asset managers, a trend driven by fee compression and the need for scale to compete with Blackstone, BlackRock, and Vanguard on distribution and technology.

Santander Completes Webster Acquisition in the U.S.

Completed: August 20, 2026 Buyer: Santander Holdings USA, Inc. (subsidiary of Banco Santander, S.A.) Target: Webster Financial Corporation Status: Completed

Santander completed its acquisition of Webster Financial Corporation, the holding company for Webster Bank, on August 20, 2026. The transaction was first announced in February 2026 and closed following shareholder and regulatory approvals. Santander said the combination creates a leading retail and commercial bank by assets in the U.S. with an expanded branch and service footprint.

Archer Aviation Acquires Wisk Aero, SkyGrid, and Insitu from Boeing

Announced: August 9, 2026 Buyer: Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE: ACHR) Seller: The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) Status: Definitive agreement signed

Archer Aviation entered a definitive equity purchase agreement with Boeing on August 9, 2026 to acquire all of the equity interests of Wisk Aero (an autonomous aviation company), SkyGrid (a digital airspace integration and air traffic management platform), and Insitu (a manufacturer of unmanned aircraft systems and AI-enabled technologies), together with related entities including Insitu Pacific, Wisk Australia, and Boeing Emirates.

The deal consolidates Boeing's autonomous and unmanned aviation assets under Archer, an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft developer. Financial terms were not disclosed in the 8-K filing.

Vanguard to Acquire Altruist

Announced: August 26, 2026 Buyer: The Vanguard Group, Inc. Target: Altruist (private) Status: Definitive agreement signed; terms undisclosed

Vanguard agreed to acquire Altruist, an AI-forward wealth technology and custody platform serving independent financial advisors. Following closing, Altruist is expected to operate as a standalone business, retaining its leadership, brand, and distinct operating model under Vanguard's ownership. Terms were not disclosed. The deal is expected to close later in 2026 subject to regulatory approval.

Why it matters: Vanguard has historically grown organically rather than by acquisition. Buying an advisor-facing technology platform is a notable strategic step for a firm built on direct-to-investor index funds. The Altruist brand will be preserved, which is itself a brand ownership decision worth noting.

LVMH Raises Loro Piana Stake to 94% and Expands Eyewear Portfolio

Announced: August 2026 Buyer: LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE (EPA: MC) Target: Loro Piana (additional stake); Barton Perreira (via Thélios) Status: Completed / signed

LVMH increased its stake in Loro Piana, the Italian cashmere and luxury textile brand, to 94% during August 2026. The group acquired its original 80% stake in 2013 for approximately €2 billion. The Loro Piana family, including Maria Luisa and Pier Luigi Loro Piana, will continue serving on the board. The stake increase gives LVMH near-full ownership of one of its most profitable fashion and leather goods houses.

Separately, LVMH's eyewear subsidiary Thélios signed an agreement to acquire Barton Perreira, a US-based luxury eyewear brand. The deal follows Thélios's acquisition of Vuarnet, the French high-end sports eyewear brand, completed a few weeks earlier. The two acquisitions mark a strategic shift for Thélios from a pure licensing model, where it managed eyewear licenses for LVMH fashion houses, to a dual model combining licensing with proprietary brand ownership.

Why it matters for brand ownership: LVMH already controls the largest luxury brand portfolio in the world. The Loro Piana stake increase tightens that control further. The Thélios acquisitions are more interesting because they signal LVMH building a proprietary eyewear brand portfolio rather than relying solely on licenses. The global sunglasses market is projected to reach $19.98 billion in 2026, and owning eyewear brands outright gives LVMH more margin and control than licensing deals with third-party manufacturers. For context on LVMH's acquisition strategy, see our complete guide to LVMH brands and our comparison of LVMH and Kering.

Consumer Brand Deals: Ferrero, Sargento, and Pilgrim's Pride

August produced several smaller but meaningful consumer brand acquisitions.

Ferrero acquires Purely Elizabeth (August 14): Ferrero Group signed an agreement to acquire Purely Elizabeth, a Boulder, Colorado-based better-for-you breakfast brand known for granola, oatmeal, and cereals. Purely Elizabeth has more than doubled its sales in the past two years and recently expanded into protein. The acquisition builds on Ferrero's September 2025 purchase of WK Kellogg Co, which took the cereal maker (Froot Loops, Special K, Raisin Bran) private and off the NYSE. Giovanni Ferrero said the deal "reinforces both its presence at breakfast time in America and its reach in the better-for-you segment." Purely Elizabeth will operate as a standalone brand, and founder Elizabeth Stein will continue as CEO. Terms were not disclosed.

Ferrero's consumer brand portfolio includes Nutella, Ferrero Rocher, Tic Tac, Kinder, and now a growing U.S. breakfast stable. See our complete guide to conglomerate brand portfolios for how Ferrero stacks up against other food giants.

Sargento acquires La Terra Fina (August 18): Sargento Foods signed a definitive agreement to acquire California-based La Terra Fina, a category leader in premium refrigerated dips, spreads, and quiches. La Terra Fina has been a private affiliate of Catamount Management Corporation since 2015 and employs approximately 250 people at a 100,000-square-foot facility near San Francisco. The sale is targeted to close in late September. Financial details were not disclosed.

Pilgrim's Pride acquires Walker's Deli & Sausage (August 14): Pilgrim's Pride Corporation (Nasdaq: PPC) agreed to acquire Walker's Deli & Sausage Company from Samworth Brothers for approximately £141.5 million on a debt-free, cash-free basis, per an SEC filing. Walker's manufactures premium sausages, cooked meats, bacon, snacking products, and pâté. Pilgrim's is already a supplier of some of Walker's raw pork.

Consumer Brand Deals (Continued): Luggage, Spirits, Feminine Care, and Canadian Heritage

August produced more consumer brand deals than the food acquisitions above. Several of these changed the ownership behind brands our database tracks closely.

Samsonite acquires BÉIS (August 12): Samsonite Group S.A. (SEHK: 1910) signed a definitive agreement to acquire BÉIS, LLC, a digitally native lifestyle and travel brand founded in 2018 by actress and entrepreneur Shay Mitchell and incubated by Beach House Group. BÉIS generated approximately $210 million in 2025 revenue at attractive margins, with about 50% of sales coming from lifestyle bag categories. The brand has over 1.4 million Instagram followers and more than 619,000 TikTok followers. CEO Kyle Gendreau said the transaction aligns with Samsonite's growth priorities of strengthening digital capabilities and expanding in lifestyle bags. BÉIS expands Samsonite's reach among younger, predominantly female consumers.

This deal matters for brand ownership because Samsonite already owns Samsonite, TUMI, American Tourister, and Gregory. Adding BÉIS gives the world's largest luggage company a stronger foothold in the direct-to-consumer lifestyle bag category. See our luggage brand ownership analysis for the full picture of who controls the travel gear market.

Sazerac acquires Au Vodka (August 18): Sazerac Company, the privately held spirits maker behind Buffalo Trace and BuzzBallz, agreed to acquire UK-based ready-to-drink cocktail brand Au Vodka for an undisclosed amount. Au Vodka was founded in 2015 by friends Charlie Morgan and Jackson Quinn, with DJ Charlie Sloth later joining as an investor. The brand gained attention after YouTuber JJ Olatunji (KSI) mentioned it. The deal broadens Sazerac's RTD portfolio and opens the door for US expansion of the UK canned cocktail brand. The transaction is expected to close in the coming weeks.

Pernod Ricard takes full ownership of Italicus (August 27): Pernod Ricard acquired the remaining shares in Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto, the Italian apéritif brand, following its initial investment in March 2020. Under the original 2020 deal, Pernod Ricard and Gallo reportedly each held 50% of the brand. Founder Giuseppe Gallo stepped down from his operational role as part of the transaction. Italicus has sold more than three million bottles worldwide, with distribution across 47 countries and consistent double-digit annual growth. Financial details of the buyout were not disclosed. Italicus is now fully owned and integrated within the Pernod Ricard organization.

Essity acquires Kenvue's Brazil feminine care business (August 20): Essity agreed to acquire Kenvue's feminine care business in Brazil for USD 284 million on a cash and debt-free basis. The deal includes the market-leading brands Carefree, Sempre Livre, and o.b. in Brazil. The acquisition strengthens Essity's position as the market leader in feminine care in Latin America and builds on its February 2026 acquisition of Edgewell Personal Care's feminine care business in North America, which added the same Carefree, Stayfree, o.b., and Playtex brands in the US and Canada.

For Kenvue, the divestiture narrows its portfolio ahead of its pending $48.7 billion acquisition by Kimberly-Clark, expected to close in Q4 2026. For Essity, the Brazil deal consolidates ownership of Carefree and o.b. across multiple continents. Our Essity company profile tracks the full portfolio.

Marquee Brands acquires Roots (August 21): Marquee Brands, the New York-based brand management firm, finalized a deal to acquire Roots Corporation (TSX: ROOT), the Canadian heritage outdoor and lifestyle brand, for C$4.10 per share in cash. The price represents a 36% premium over the closing price on March 2, 2026, the last trading day before Roots announced its strategic review. The deal will take Roots private.

Marquee Brands is acquiring Roots through its operating partner JM&A Design and Development Inc., led by Canadian retail veterans Joseph Mimran and Frank Rocchetti. Mimran is known for heading Joe Fresh, Club Monaco, and Kit & Ace. JM&A will oversee design, development, manufacturing, and distribution, and will assume responsibility for Roots's more than 100 North American stores and its e-commerce operations. Marquee Brands will focus on global brand stewardship and new category development. Roots, founded in 1973, was once an Olympic outfitter and remains a 53-year-old Canadian cultural brand. The transaction is subject to shareholder approval at a special meeting.

Other Notable August 2026 Deals

Salesforce / Fin (formerly Intercom) -- $3.6B: Salesforce signed a definitive agreement to acquire Fin, the customer-agent platform formerly known as Intercom, for approximately $3.6 billion. The deal was published on June 15, 2026 and is expected to close in Q4 of Salesforce's fiscal 2027. Fin reports more than 30,000 companies using its products and over $400 million in ARR. We include it here because the regulatory and closing process runs through August and beyond.

TCGX Acquisition Corp. SPAC -- $86.25M (August 6): TCGX Acquisition Corp. closed its IPO of 8,625,000 Class A ordinary shares at $10.00 per share, generating $86.25 million in gross proceeds.

IBM completes HRL Laboratories acquisition (August 26): IBM completed its acquisition of HRL Laboratories, LLC, a research and development institution with expertise in quantum computing, quantum sensing, advanced communications, electronics, and materials science. HRL's former owners, Boeing and General Motors, will continue to partner with IBM and HRL on quantum applications. Financial terms were not disclosed. The acquisition strengthens IBM's quantum hardware roadmap, with HRL's silicon-spin qubit expertise complementing IBM's superconducting quantum computing platform.

SLB acquires Kelvion (August 31): SLB (NYSE: SLB) signed an agreement to acquire Kelvion, a global provider of thermal management and heat exchange technologies, from Apollo-managed funds and Triton for approximately $3.4 billion in cash plus approximately $0.7 billion of assumed debt. The acquisition strengthens SLB's Data Center Solutions business with critical thermal management technologies for AI infrastructure. SLB expects the transaction to be accretive to earnings per share and free cash flow per share in the first 12 months following closing, with approximately $120 million in annual EBITDA synergies expected within three years. Closing is expected in the first half of 2027.

ONEOK acquires Brazos Midstream Permian assets (August 30): ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE: OKE) executed a definitive agreement to acquire Brazos Midstream's Permian Midland Basin natural gas gathering and processing assets for $4.425 billion in cash. Brazos is owned by Apollo Global Management. The acquisition is funded through a $9 billion nonvoting minority equity investment from Apollo. The deal expands ONEOK's Permian Basin footprint.

Eli Lilly acquires Merida Biosciences (August 31): Eli Lilly agreed to acquire privately held Merida Biosciences for up to $2.88 billion in cash, strengthening its immunology portfolio with an experimental treatment for thyroid-related autoimmune conditions. The deal includes an upfront amount plus contingent milestone payments. Lilly expects the transaction to close in the fourth quarter. The acquisition continues Lilly's aggressive 2026 deal spending, funded by windfall profits from its weight-loss drugs.

Randa acquires UNTUCKit (September 1): Randa Apparel & Accessories announced the acquisition of the UNTUCKit brand and operations on September 1, 2026. UNTUCKit is a digitally native New York-based menswear brand with more than 70 retail stores and a substantial e-commerce business, founded in 2010 on the shirt designed to be worn untucked. The UNTUCKit leadership team will continue operating from its SoHo headquarters. We include this deal because it closed just after the August cutoff but reflects the same DTC brand consolidation trend visible throughout the month.

August 2026 by the Numbers

Source: Company press releases, SEC filings, Reuters, The Information, AP News, BBC News, Intellizence, PRNewswire, WWD, Food Dive, The Spirits Business. Status as of September 1, 2026.

Ongoing Deals from Prior Months

Stripe + Advent / PayPal ($53.4B bid): The unsolicited offer for PayPal remained unresolved through August. PayPal's board rejected the $60.50 per share offer in July. No formal response has been issued as of August 31.

McCormick / Unilever Food Business ($42 to $45B): The combination of McCormick's spice portfolio with Unilever's food unit, including Hellmann's and Knorr, remained in pre-regulatory review through August. McCormick shareholder vote is expected Q4 2026. Close targeted mid-2027.

Vertex / Crinetics ($10.0B): Announced July 6. Pending Crinetics shareholder vote and regulatory clearance. Closing targeted Q3 2026.

Couche-Tard / Żabka ($8.6B): Announced July 31. Tender offer launched. Closing targeted by December 2026.

Utz / Intersnack ($2.9B): Announced July 21. Pending shareholder and regulatory approval. Closing expected Q4 2026.

Kroger / Giant Eagle ($1.65B): Announced July 1. Expected to close in 2027.

Warner Bros. Discovery / Paramount Skydance ($110B): DOJ and FTC review ongoing. CNN divestiture widely expected as a regulatory condition.

Henkel / Olaplex ($1.4B): Regulatory clearances confirmed. Close on track for H2 2026. See the Olaplex brand profile.

FAQ

What was the biggest M&A deal of August 2026?

By value, the Electronic Arts buyout closing at $55 billion is the largest deal of August 2026 and the largest leveraged buyout in history. It was originally announced in September 2025 and closed on August 4, 2026. EA is now privately owned by a consortium led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and is delisted from Nasdaq.

Is Nvidia really buying Hugging Face?

As of August 31, 2026, the deal has been reported by The Information and Reuters but has not been officially confirmed by Nvidia in a press release. The reported agreement values Hugging Face at approximately $12.9 billion. Nvidia was already an investor in Hugging Face alongside Google, Amazon, and others.

What consumer brands changed ownership in August 2026?

Ferrero agreed to acquire Purely Elizabeth, a better-for-you U.S. breakfast brand, on August 14 for approximately $850 million. Sargento agreed to acquire La Terra Fina, a premium dips and spreads brand, on August 18. Pilgrim's Pride agreed to acquire Walker's Deli & Sausage Company for approximately £141.5 million on August 14. Samsonite agreed to acquire BÉIS, a lifestyle and travel bag brand, on August 12. Sazerac agreed to acquire UK canned cocktail brand Au Vodka on August 18. Pernod Ricard took full ownership of Italicus on August 27. Essity agreed to buy Kenvue's Brazil feminine care business (Carefree, Sempre Livre, o.b.) for $284 million on August 20. Marquee Brands agreed to acquire Canadian heritage brand Roots for C$4.10 per share on August 21. Randa acquired UNTUCKit on September 1. The largest consumer brand ownership change was EA's gaming portfolio (EA Sports FC, Battlefield, The Sims, Apex Legends, Madden NFL) moving under PIF-led private ownership.

What does the EA buyout mean for gamers?

EA has stated it will "maintain creative control" and continue its "track record of creative freedom and player-first values." The corporate owner has changed from public Nasdaq shareholders to a sovereign wealth fund-led consortium. PIF already owns a minority stake in Nintendo and has growing exposure to global gaming IP. The practical impact on individual game franchises is not yet visible, but the ownership structure behind the brands is fundamentally different.

Did Charter buy Cox?

Charter completed a transaction with Cox Communications on August 20, 2026 that gives Cox Enterprises approximately 26% of the combined entity. Charter also completed its acquisition of Liberty Broadband the same day. The consumer-facing Spectrum brand does not change. The corporate ownership behind it is now a larger combined company.

Did LVMH buy Loro Piana?

LVMH already owned 80% of Loro Piana, acquired in 2013 for approximately €2 billion. In August 2026, LVMH increased its stake to 94%, tightening control of the Italian cashmere brand. The Loro Piana family, including Maria Luisa and Pier Luigi Loro Piana, continue serving on the board. LVMH's eyewear subsidiary Thélios also signed an agreement to acquire Barton Perreira, a US luxury eyewear brand, following its earlier acquisition of Vuarnet.

Who owns BÉIS now?

BÉIS is being acquired by Samsonite Group S.A. (SEHK: 1910), the world's largest travel luggage company, which also owns Samsonite, TUMI, American Tourister, and Gregory. The definitive agreement was signed on August 12, 2026. BÉIS was founded in 2018 by actress Shay Mitchell and incubated by Beach House Group. The brand generated approximately $210 million in 2025 revenue. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Who owns Roots now?

Marquee Brands, a New York-based brand management firm, agreed to acquire Roots Corporation (TSX: ROOT) on August 21, 2026 for C$4.10 per share in cash, taking the Canadian heritage brand private. Marquee Brands is partnering with JM&A Design and Development Inc., led by Joseph Mimran and Frank Rocchetti, who will oversee operations. Roots will continue to be operated from Canada. The transaction is subject to shareholder approval.

Related Reading

• Monthly M&A Roundup: July 2026
• Monthly M&A Roundup: June 2026
• Biggest Brand Deals of Q1 2026
• Brands That Changed Owners in the Last 90 Days
• When Brand Acquisitions Make and Destroy Stock Value
• Chinese Companies Buying Western Brands
• Browse all News & Updates

Sources

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Vanguard: Vanguard to Acquire Altruist -- https://corporate.vanguard.com/content/corporatesite/us/en/corp/who-we-are/pressroom/press-release-vanguard-announcement-082626.html (August 26, 2026) 11. Ferrero Group: Ferrero Group to Acquire Purely Elizabeth -- https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ferrero-group-to-acquire-purely-elizabeth-a-leading-us-modern-wellness-brand-302851234.html (August 14, 2026) 12. Sargento Foods: Sargento Acquires La Terra Fina -- https://perishablenews.com/deli/sargento-acquires-la-terra-fina-a-u-s-category-leader-in-dairy-based-dips-spreads/ (August 18, 2026) 13. Pilgrim's Pride Corporation: 8-K filing re Walker's Deli & Sausage acquisition -- https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/802481/000080248126000053/ppc-20260814.htm (August 14, 2026) 14. Intellizence: Top 5 M&A Deals of the Week ending August 30, 2026 -- https://intellizence.com/insights/merger-and-acquisition/top-5-ma-deals-of-the-week-nvidia-apollo-victory-capital-vanguard-and-mckesson-lead-36-billion-in-deals/ 15. Acquiry: Salesforce Acquires Fin -- https://www.acquiry.com/deal-intelligence/salesforce-acquires-fin/ 16. Samsonite Group S.A.: Samsonite Group to Acquire BÉIS -- https://www.barchart.com/story/news/3816711/samsonite-group-s-a-to-acquire-beis-expanding-its-lifestyle-portfolio-and-enhancing-digital-capabilities (August 12, 2026) 17. Food Dive: Sazerac buys UK-based canned cocktail brand Au Vodka -- https://www.fooddive.com/news/sazerac-buys-au-vodka-rtd-cocktail-expansion/828122/ (August 18, 2026) 18. The Spirits Business: Pernod Ricard takes full ownership of Italicus -- https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2026/08/pernod-ricard-takes-full-ownership-of-italicus/ (August 27, 2026) 19. Essity: Essity acquires feminine care business in Brazil -- https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/essity-acquires-feminine-care-business-in-brazil-302855876.html (August 20, 2026) 20. WWD: Marquee Brands Acquires Roots for $4.10C Per Share -- https://wwd.com/business-news/mergers-acquisitions/marquee-brands-acquire-roots-heath-golden-1239145312/ (August 21, 2026) 21. Roots Corporation: Roots Agrees to Go Private in Transaction Led by Marquee Brands -- https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/press-releases/2026/08/21/roots-corporation-agrees-to-go-private-in-transaction-led-by-marquee-brands-in-partnership-with-canadian-retail-leaders-joseph-mimran-and-frank-rocchetti-to-position-roots-for-next-chapter-of-global-growth/ (August 21, 2026) 22. LVMH / Thélios: Thélios Acquires Barton Perreira -- https://www.conchen-glasses.com/news/lvmh-s-th-lios-acquires-us-luxury-eyewear-bran-85580419.html (July/August 2026) 23. LVMH Increases Stake in Loro Piana to 94% -- https://easyvirginiadivorce.com/article/lvmh-increases-stake-in-loro-piana-to-94-luxury-fashion-brand-acquisition (August 2026) 24. IBM: IBM Completes Acquisition of HRL Laboratories -- https://newsroom.ibm.com/2026-08-26-ibm-completes-acquisition-of-hrl-laboratories-to-accelerate-the-future-of-quantum (August 26, 2026) 25. SLB: SLB to Acquire Kelvion, Expanding its Role Across Data Center Infrastructure -- https://www.slb.com/newsroom/press-release/2026/pr-2026-0831 (August 31, 2026) 26. ONEOK / Apollo: ONEOK to Acquire Brazos Midstream's Permian Midland Basin Assets for $4.425 Billion -- https://www.apollo.com/insights-news/pressreleases/2026/08/oneok-brazos-midstreams-permian-midland-basin-assets (August 30, 2026) 27. CNBC: Lilly to buy Merida Biosciences for up to $2.88 billion in autoimmune drug push -- https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/31/eli-lilly-to-buy-merida-biosciences.html (August 31, 2026) 28. PRNewswire: Randa Acquires UNTUCKit Brand and Operations -- https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/randa-acquires-untuckit-brand-and-operations-302866245.html (September 1, 2026) 29. New Hope Network: Ferrero Group acquires Purely Elizabeth for $850M -- https://www.newhope.com/investments/ferrero-group-acquires-purely-elizabeth-850-million-dollars-expand-breakfast-wellness-portfolio (August 24, 2026)

All brand ownership data verified through WhoBrands.com research methodology. Last updated: September 1, 2026.