Finance & Capital Management

Burlington Stores president and CEO Tom Kingsbury has the operator of 523 stores headed in the right direction with an off-price model that is delivering results and poised for expansion.

With an 8.7% same store sales increase, the addition of 21 new stores, a burgeoning digital business and surging first quarter profits, Ulta Beauty demonstrated why it is one of the retail industry’s most compelling growth stories.

New York — Sycamore Partners announced Monday that it bought the going-out-of-business Coldwater Creek brand and other intellectual property through an affiliate company during the  apparel chain’s  bankruptcy proceedings.  The private equity firm said it plans to re-launch Coldwater Creek as an independent portfolio company, but it did not give a timeline for the launch.

Terms of the acquisition weren’t disclosed.

Ankeny, Iowa — Casey’s General Stores reported that the board of directors elected Terry W. Handley to serve as president of the Company, effective immediately.  He  will continue to serve in his present role of COO.

Houston — Mattress Firm Holding Corp. announced the promotion of Alex Weiss to executive VP and CFO of the company, effective July 30, 2014, the beginning of the retailer’s third fiscal quarter.  He succeeds Jim Black who transitions into the role of senior corporate advisor to Mattress Firm through the end of the current fiscal year.

Matthews, N.C. — Family Dollar Stores has adopted a one-year shareholder rights plan to prevent investors from gaining sizable control of the company. The move follows the disclosure on Friday that activist investor Carl Icahn has amassed a 9.39% stake in the retailer over the past two months, making him its largest shareholder.

In the filing on Friday, Icahn said he plans to push Family Dollar management to explore strategic changes, and that he might also seek board seats.

Seattle — Amazon.com is reportedly entering the online payment arena.

According to Reuters, Amazon.com will offer a service where for a fee, registered customers can use credit card information stored on Amazon.com to pay for services such as utilities or digital subscriptions.

Goodlettsville, Tenn. — Dollar General plans to expand its nationwide presence into three new states within the next year, increasing the company’s presence to 43 states across the country. The discount retailer will begin construction on stores in Maine and Rhode Island in fall 2014, with plans to expand into Oregon in early 2015.

Mooresville, N.C. — Paul D. Ramsay has been promoted to CIO of Lowe’s Companies Inc., effective immediately. He has been serving as acting CIO since March.  

North Bergen, N.J. — Vitamin Shoppe Inc. has purchased FDC Vitamins LLC, doing business as Nutri-Force Nutrition, a contract manufacturer of vitamins, minerals and supplements, from MBF Healthcare Partners L.P. and other minority holders. Nutri-Force is a current manufacturer for Vitamin Shoppe as well as for other domestic and international customers and distributors.