Finance & Capital Management

Fort Worth, Texas – As the New York Stock Exchange delists trading of its shares, beleaguered consumer electronics retailer RadioShack Corp. reportedly has at least two suitors interested in buying some of its stores. According to Bloomberg, both Amazon.com Inc. and Sprint Corp. are in discussions with RadioShack about possibly acquiring some stores, with RadioShack shuttering whatever stores were left.

Framingham, Mass. – The office supply retail vertical may be in for more consolidation. According to the Wall Street Journal, Staples Inc. and Office Depot Inc. are in the “advanced stages” of negotiations to combine the two biggest U.S. office supply chains.

Wage and hour issues are ever present in the retail industry. Retailers are under constant pressure to control expenses, the largest component of which is labor. In 2015, local, state and federal officials are poised to take actions that will likely increase the cost of labor for retailers. Retailers must remain alert for these coming changes and begin planning for their impact long before their effective dates.

Walgreens Boots Alliance has appointed Marco Pagni, formerly group legal counsel and chief administrative officer of Alliance Boots, as EVP and global chief legal and administrative officer, effective immediately.

Walgreens Boots Alliance has appointed Marco Pagni, formerly group legal counsel and chief administrative officer of Alliance Boots, as EVP and global chief legal and administrative officer, effective immediately.

Citing the cost and complexity associated the rollout of the Affordable Care Act, National Retail Federation affirmed its opposition to the health care law in a sharply worded letter to top elected officials.

Rent-A-Center's Acceptance Now program has been a big hit with consumers, but the kiosks weren't enough to lift the company in the fourth quarter.   The company reported a 28% increase in same store sales at the Acceptance Now kiosks, which allow customers to pick out items from certain retailers partnering with RAC. Rent-A-Center will buy the item and lease it to the customer with no credit check needed.   

Luxury beauty retailer Bluemercury was acquired by Macy’s and the retailer announced another round of extensive personnel changes, including a new head merchant, that are designed to bolster its omnichannel, international and alternative format growth prospects.

Macy’s said it signed an agreement to acquire the 60 store specialty retailer Bluemercury for $210 million and would continue to operate the company as a standalone business while infusing existing Macy’s stores with the specialty retailer’s high end brands.

Deerfield, Ill. - Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. has named Marco Pagni, formerly group legal counsel and chief administrative officer of Alliance Boots, as executive VP and global chief legal and administrative officer. In this role, Pagni will oversee all global legal affairs for Walgreens Boots Alliance and its divisions, including strategy and mergers and acquisitions, working with acting CEO Stefano Pessina.

Berkeley, Calif. -- Donahue Schriber Realty Group acquired Gilman Village on January 30, marking the Costa Mesa, California-based company’s second Bay Area acquisition in the past month.

Besides the Gilman Village acquisition in Berkeley, California, Donahue Schriber purchased Village Oaks shopping center, a 320,000-sq.-ft. property anchored by Target and Safeway located in San Jose, California.