Finance & Capital Management

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — Former Johnson & Johnson chairman and CEO James Burke passed away Sept. 28. He was 87 years old.

New York -- Data released Monday by the Associated General Contractors of America revealed that construction spending declined between July and August to an annualized rate of $837 billion, but increased compared with August 2011 driven largely by growing demand for residential, lodging and education construction.

Plymouth Meeting, Pa. -- Ikea said Monday that it plans to sell only energy-efficient LED lighting by 2016. The move comes two years after the Swedish retailer phased out incandescent bulbs.

Ikea said it believes the shift to the longer-lasting bulbs will help set an environmentally friendly example in the industry. It also will help save the company about $10 million to $20 million a year, or 10%, in lighting costs at its 300 stores around the globe, said Steve Howard, the company's chief sustainability officer.

Beachwood, Ohio -- DDR Corp. announced Monday the acquisition of $328 million of prime assets and the disposition of $12 million of non-prime assets during the quarter.

Year to date, the company closed $2 billion of acquisitions, including the joint venture with Blackstone's flagship real estate fund, and disposed of $137 million of non-prime assets.

As of the third quarter, DDR said it has raised gross common equity capital of $435 million through the issuance of 31.7 million new common shares to fund investments and lower leverage.

Rome, Ga. -- Augusta, Ga.-based Hull Storey Gibson Companies announced its acquisition of Mount Berry Square Mall in Rome, Ga.

The 476,778-sq.-ft. mall is anchored by Belk, J.C. Penney and Sears.

Bronx, N.Y. -- Simone Development Cos. announced that LA Fitness will open a 43,000-sq.-ft. facility at Metro Center Atrium, a new 370,000-sq.-ft. mixed-use project in the Pelham Bay section of the Bronx in New York.

The office, retail and hotel complex is the latest phase in Simone Development’s 42-acre, multi-building Hutchinson Metro Center campus.

LA Fitness’s new gym is slated to open November 2013, and will join a newly announced Residence Inn-branded hotel at Metro Center Atrium.

Conshohocken, Pa. -- Ikea announced it is submitting plans to the city of Merriam, Kansas, for a Kansas City-area store that would increase the Swedish retailer’s presence in the Midwestern United States.  

Tractor Supply Company president and COO Greg Sandfort will succeed James Wright as CEO of the 1,135 store chain effective January 1.

During a year that saw Dollar General open its 10,000th store and AutoZone opens its 5,000th store, rent-to-own retailer Aaron’s has opened its 2,000th location.

The Atlanta-based retailer specializing in the sales and lease ownership of residential furniture, consumer electronics, home appliances and accessories, designated a store in the Bronx, New York as its 2,000th location.

Ocean Spray, the world's largest cranberry cooperative, has opened a new $26 million state-of-the-art cranberry receiving station facility in Richmond, British Columbia.