Consumer Affairs & Relations

Columbus,Ohio -- Limited Brands has expanded its public senior debt offering to $1 billion from the $750 million that it initially announced on Tuesday.

The company plans to use net proceeds from the offering to repurchase $500 million worth of shares under a new stock buyback authorized by company's board. The new program includes $31 million remaining under the company's existing $200 million share repurchase program. Limited Brands has priced the notes, which come due in 2021, at 6.625%.

PLEASANTON, Calif. -- The Safeway Foundation announced that it has donated $100,000 and will match employee donations up to $50,000 to help with the Japan earthquake and tsunami relief effort. The contribution will be distributed to the impacted area through the American Red Cross.

Plano, Texas -- J.C. Penney has been named the No. 1 retailer on Diversity's annual ranking of "Top 50 Companies for Diversity," which recognizes leading organizations for best practices in diversity management.

It is the second consecutive year that the company has earned its place on the list, moving up 11 spots to No. 35 overall.

CINCINNATI -- Macy's Inc. announced that it will make a corporate contribution of $100,000 in cash to the American Red Cross for earthquake and tsunami relief on behalf of Macy's and Bloomingdale's associates across America. In addition, the company said it will match, on a dollar-for-dollar basis, all employee contributions of $25 or more to the American Red Cross and other U.S.-based organizations providing rescue and relief assistance in Japan. 

Sharp Electronics Corp. has announced that Mark Viken has been named VP, marketing. He will report to John Herrington, president, Sharp Electronics Marketing Company of America.

In this position, Viken will oversee U.S. marketing of all Sharp consumer electronics products including appliances and health and environment-related products, as well as audio and video categories.

Johannesburg, South Africa -- A Tuesday report by Bloomberg said that hearings on a Wal-Mart Stores bid to acquire control of Massmart Holdings Ltd. will be adjourned to May 9, following an earlier announcement on Tuesday that the hearings would proceed this week.

After announcing that it will hear evidence from labor unions and Wal-Mart and Massmart this week and from the government on May 9 and May 10, South Africa’s Competition Tribunal now say the hearing has been adjourned to May 9.

FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company announced that, along with its sister Ahold USA supermarkets, $100,000 will be donated to the American Red Cross Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Fund to support disaster relief efforts to help those affected by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Additionally, through Sunday, April 3, Stop & Shop said it will be collecting donations in all stores for the victims of the natural disasters in Japan on behalf of the American Red Cross Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Fund.

Olympia Sports announced that, effective Sept. 1, Dick Coffey, president, will be retiring.  Coffey has served Olympia Sports for more than 35 years, and for the last 12 years he has served as president. He will continue to be involved after his retirement as a member of the company’s board of directors and will consult on new store growth.

The company has named Ed Manganello, general merchandise manager, as our new president effective Sept. 1.  Manganello started his career with Olympia in 1992.