Lowe's withdraws bid to buy Rona; remains committed to Canadian growth

Morrisville, N.C. -- Lowe’s Cos. Inc. said Monday it has withdrawn its bid to purchase Canadian home-improvement retailer Rona Inc.



The $1.86 billion unsolicited acquisition proposal had earlier been rejected by Quebec-based Rona, which said the offer was not the best deal for its shareholders. The proposal generated discord among Rona’s dealer companies, many of whom threatened to sever their ties with Rona should Lowe’s succeed in its acquisition attempt.



In a Monday statement, Lowe’s said: “It is unfortunate that the Rona board of directors did not recognize the important economic and commercial benefits of this proposal for its stakeholders and for Canada.”



Lowe’s also said that it remains committed to Canadian growth and will evaluate other options, including organic growth. The company currently operates 31 stores in Canada, compared to rival Home Depot’s 180 Canadian units.