Finance & Capital Management

Sears and Kmart recently announced they will allow pickup of Sears.com or Kmart.com orders at any of each other's more than 2,000 U.S. stores. Customers will be able to select free store pickup and a preferred pickup location for specially marked online items. The retailers are even taking the digitally progressive step of offering online video instruction through the YouTube channel for members of the Sears/Kmart Shop Your Way omnichannel loyalty program.

Dallas -- X Team International partner Venture Commercial Real Estate has completed leases for two LA Fitness locations in Austin and McKinney, Texas.
 
"As LA Fitness continues to expand its footprint into North and Central Texas, our focus remains on identifying prime locations that will both meet the club's needs and generate increased foot traffic," said Venture Commercial Partner John Zikos.   
    

Chicago -- Mid-America Real Estate Corporation’s Investment Sales team recently brokered the sale of Gateway Square in Hinsdale (Chicago MSA), Illinois. The 39,710-sq.-ft. center was purchased for $10 million, excluding closing costs and adjustments, by Buffalo Grove, Illinois-based C P Management, LLC.
 

Mylan has entered into a definitive agreement with Abbott whereby Mylan will acquire Abbott's non-U.S. developed markets specialty and branded generics business in an all-stock transaction.

Upon closing, Abbott will receive 105 million shares of the combined company worth approximately $5.3 billion based on Mylan's closing price of $50.20 on Friday, July 11, 2014, representing an approximately 21% ownership stake.
 

Dr. Ashish K. Khandpur is 3M’s new SVP of research and development and chief technology officer, a role that carries high innovation expectations at a company with a reputation for game-changing product development.

Ikea is submitting plans to Clark County, Nevada, for a Las Vegas-area store that would increase the Swedish retailer’s presence in the western United States. The application marks the beginning of the governmental approval process that could lead to the store’s opening as early as summer 2016.

Until then, customers will have to shop at the closest locations in Covina, California; Tempe, Arizona, or Draper, Utah; or online at IKEA-USA.com.

Unified Grocers has promoted Terry Bodwin to VP, chief human resources officer. She was previously VP, employee and labor relations.

The appointment is part of a restructure designed to integrate and align all aspects of human resources company-wide. In her new role, Bodwin will report to Christine Neal, SVP, finance and treasurer.

First Data Corporation reported solid June spending growth in a number of sectors in its First Data SpendTrend analysis for May 31, 2014 through June 30, 2014, compared to June 1, 2013 through July 1, 2013.

SpendTrend tracks same-store point-of-sale data by credit, signature debit, PIN debit, EBT, closed-loop prepaid cards and checks from nearly 4 million merchant locations serviced by First Data.

Dublin, Calif. -- Ross Dress for Less will open two new stores in the Southeast on July 19th.  The store openings are in The Village on Pooler Parkway in Pooler, Georgia, and Dixie Valley Shopping Center in Southwest Louisville, Kentucky.  These new openings are part of the retailer’s 2014 expansion program, totaling approximately 75 new locations during the year.

Together, Ross Dress for Less and dd’s Discounts currently operate over 1,300 off-price apparel and home fashion stores in 33 states, the District of Columbia and Guam.

Latham, New York -- DWM Facilities Maintenance announces today the promotion of Paul Meeks to executive VP of projects.  Meeks was an integral part of founding DWM with his brother David and has been with the company since its inception in 1997.