Consumer Affairs & Relations

Bauer Performance Sports, a leading designer and manufacturer of high performance sports equipment and apparel, has completed the acquisition of the Easton Baseball/Softball business from Easton-Bell Sports.

Under the terms of the asset purchase agreement, BPS acquired Easton Baseball/Softball for a total all-cash consideration valued at $330 million, plus a working capital adjustment and fees. BPS expects the acquisition to be accretive to adjusted earnings per share in the first year of ownership.

Atlanta -- Simon Property Group said it will undertake a series of improvements to Phipps Plaza, which is located in Atlanta's Buckhead district.

The plans include extensive interior makeover, providing a fresh new look and feel to the interior space of the mall, with upgraded LED lighting, new paint, new warm wood accents, an updated railing system, luxury soft seating and lounging areas with Wi-Fi connectivity and chargers. In addition, restrooms will be upgraded and a hotel-like concierge service center will be installed.

Ahold USA has appointed Amy Hahn to the newly created position of SVP marketing effective April 28. In this role, Hahn will lead and drive critical initiatives of strategic marketing, market insights and analytics, advertising, promotion, brand development, corporate communications, innovation, digital strategy and execution.

She will also be responsible for developing digital retailing and loyalty plans.

Camp Hill, Pa. - Rite Aid pharmacy workers in 77 stores across the state of Michigan have voted to ratify a new, three-year agreement negotiated by United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 876, and the Rite Aid Bargaining Committee. The agreement guarantees 7% wage increases for all 792 union members; provides both pension and healthcare benefits; and preserves all current holiday, vacation and personal days.

Pacific World Cosmetics has tapped Neutrogena executive Jim Colleran to serve as its new CEO. Colleran will lead all efforts for the corporation’s multiple beauty and health brands, which include SensatioNail, Nailene, Trim, Dr. G’s and Fing’rs.

Colleran succeeds Joe Fracassi, who has left to pursue other opportunities.

Michael Howe was named CEO at Minneapolis-based Verify Corp., a software provider with solutions focused on supply chain security and brand protection and consumer engagement and loyalty promotions.

Howe has served in various executive leadership positions with Procter & Gamble, PepsiCo, Unilever, Arby’s and MinuteClinic. As CEO of MinuteClinic, Howe facilitated the national expansion of the business from 19 clinics in two markets to more than 525 clinics in 27 states. Most recently, he has served as chairman at Smart Receipt and DRX.

Washington, D.C. - The National Retail Federation is moving forward with the creation of a program that will allow retailers to access to information on cybersecurity threats identified by other retailers, government and law enforcement agencies and partners in the financial services sector.

The National Retail Federation is moving forward with the creation of a program that will provide retailers access to information on cybersecurity threats identified by retailers, government and law enforcement agencies and partners in the financial services sector.

The program, developed in consultation with the Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center (FS-ISAC), will launch with the establishment of an information-sharing platform for retail industry information security specialists, and plans call for a retail ISAC to be established in June.