International Business

Cheshunt, U.K. – Philip Clarke, CEO of leading U.K. grocery and general merchandise retailer Tesco plc is publicly resisting calls for his resignation following a 6% decline in annual profits and 3% quarterly drop in U.K. same-store sales. Tesco has reported falling profits for two consecutive years following 20 years of continual profit growth.

Seattle – Starbucks Corp. plans to move its European headquarters to London, from its current base in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The move will both concentrate some executives in the U.K., including some transferred from the Amsterdam office, and also increase the tax Starbucks pays in the U.K.

Starbucks paid an estimated $16.8 million in U.K. taxes during 2013 and has said it expects to pay the same amount in 2014. The company has received criticism in the U.K. for allegedly using complex accounting procedures to minimize the tax it pays there.

West Chester, Pa. – QVC Inc. plans to expand its European presence into France. With the launch of the new service scheduled for the second quarter of 2015, QVC will expand its e-commerce business to seven operations reaching nine countries.

Southfield, Mich. - The Mars Agency has rolled out an international corporate rebrand in the U.S., U.K, and Canada. The company has changed its name from Mars Advertising.

Owning the shopping experience of the future is how Gap chairman and CEO Glenn Murphy described the motivation behind a wide range of omnichannel strategies he and other senior executives shared during an annual meeting with investors.

Murphy and Gap’s top division heads provided an overview of strategic initiatives designed to achieve long-term, profitable growth across its portfolio of brands and also highlighted how the company plans to use technology, innovation and scale as competitive advantages as it looks to deliver a world class omnichannel experience.

Columbus, Ohio -- In a move to establish a base in Canada, DSW Inc. has entered into an agreement to buy an approximate 44% stake in Canadian footwear retailer Town Shoes. The transaction, expected to close in May, is valued at approximately $62 million. Under the agreement, DSW will have the right to purchase the rest of Town Shoes after four years.

New York -- Tesco Plc plans to bring its value-priced F&F clothing format to the United States, opening seven stores on the East Coast this year with its U.S. franchise partner, Retail Group of America. The move comes some six months after Tesco sold off its struggling American supermarket operation, Fresh & Easy, to Ron Burkle's Yucaipa investment company.

Pacific World Cosmetics has tapped Neutrogena executive Jim Colleran to serve as its new CEO. Colleran will lead all efforts for the corporation’s multiple beauty and health brands, which include SensatioNail, Nailene, Trim, Dr. G’s and Fing’rs.

Colleran succeeds Joe Fracassi, who has left to pursue other opportunities.

Bauer Performance Sports, a leading designer and manufacturer of high performance sports equipment and apparel, has completed the acquisition of the Easton Baseball/Softball business from Easton-Bell Sports.

Under the terms of the asset purchase agreement, BPS acquired Easton Baseball/Softball for a total all-cash consideration valued at $330 million, plus a working capital adjustment and fees. BPS expects the acquisition to be accretive to adjusted earnings per share in the first year of ownership.

DSW and Town Shoes Limited have entered into a definitive agreement whereby DSW will purchase for cash approximately 44% interest in Town Shoes, the largest footwear and accessories retailer in Canada, for CAD $68 million — or approximately $62 million based on current exchange rates.

The transaction has been approved by each company's board of directors and is expected to close in May, subject to customary closing conditions.