Walmart In Talks to Acquire Israeli Startup To Boost Its Marketplace Security: Report

• Sources told CNBC that Walmart's move to acquire R&A Data follows at least a year of working with the company.
• Financial terms and timing of the potential deal have not yet been disclosed.
• In August, Walmart reported that its online marketplace had posted more than 30% sales growth for four consecutive quarters.

Walmart is reportedly in talks to acquire an Israeli startup, R&A Data, to protect its online markets against scams, counterfeits, and other compliance issues. 

People familiar with the matter told CNBC that R&A Data has been working with Walmart as a third-party vendor since at least 2024, screening marketplace listings for compliance risks.

After observing the company’s performance and capabilities, Walmart decided to pursue an acquisition, the sources said. Details of the potential deal, including financial terms, were not immediately available.

Walmart’s stock dipped 1.65% in midday trade as the broader market shed its morning gains. On Stocktwits, retail sentiment around the company improved to ‘neutral’ from ‘bearish’ territory over the past day.

Marketplace Growth Drives Acquisition Strategy

The acquisition comes amid Walmart’s push to expand its third-party online sales, which have become a critical growth engine for the retail giant. The company has been looking to increase the variety of items available to shoppers as it looks to compete against the likes of Amazon (AMZN).

Earlier this year, Walmart partnered with OpenAI to bring AI-driven shopping experiences via ChatGPT. It also rolled out new seller incentives and tried to expand overseas to capture a bigger market share.

In August, the company said Walmart Marketplace had achieved more than 30% sales growth in each of the past four quarters and is significantly driving the retailer’s sustained success in e-commerce, which crossed $100 billion in global sales last year.

In a separate report, CNBC had noted that Walmart had loosened its vetting controls for sellers and products over time to scale its marketplace, a strategy that has raised concerns about counterfeit goods and compliance enforcement.

Read also: SEMR Stock Rockets 70% Pre-Market After Adobe Moves On $1.9B Semrush Deal

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