Discount retailer Kmart Holding Corp will buy department store operator Sears, Roebuck & Co in a surprise $11.5 billion deal unveiled on Wednesday that will create the third-largest US retailer. The new company, Sears Holdings, will have $55 billion in annual revenue and nearly 3,500 retail stores. Both company names will be used on stores, but some Kmart stores will be converted to the more well regarded Sears nameplate.
The companies, both of which have been struggling, said in a joint statement the merger, expected to be finalised by next March, would generate significant cost savings and could trigger sales of "non-strategic real estate assets.
The deal came after investor Edward Lampert built up his position in Sears. Lampert's hedge fund ESL Investment Inc is the largest shareholder in both Kmart and Sears.
Shares of both companies soared at the start of stock market trading, with Sears up 22 percent and Kmart ahead 15 percent.
Analysts were divided over the motives behind the deal.
Some said it should protect the retailers by giving them greater strength in the marketplace and enable them to swap or sell sites to suit needs as Sears moves away from malls.