International Business

The addition of 27 new stores wasn’t enough to prevent Big Lots from reporting a 1.9% sales decline during the quarter ended October 27.

NEW YORK — Iconix Brand Group has acquired the Umbro brand from Nike for $225 million in cash.

The purchase price was funded with Iconix’s recently completed $600 million securitized financing facility, which gives the company flexibility to pursue other deals. Iconix chairman and CEO Neil Cole alluded to that possibility in commenting on the Umbro acquisition.

Dallas -- SRS Real Estate Partners announced that two new market leaders have been selected to lead the offices in Dallas/Ft. Worth and South Florida.
 
Mark Reeder has been named market leader for the Dallas/Ft. Worth office and will lead in partnership with Ryan Johnson. Reeder has been with SRS since 2000.

John Artope has been selected to lead the office in South Florida. He already leads the offices in Orlando and Tampa, and has been with the company since 2002.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission name Stephanie Tsacoumis as its new general counsel effective December 10.

Tsacoumis joins CPSC after serving as vp and general counsel at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., from 2009 through 2012, where she was responsible for all legal affairs and compliance matters at the university, including health and safety regulations, litigation, federal contracts and grants, and intellectual property.

New York -- Starbucks Coffee Co. is considering changes to its tax practices in the U.K. in the wake of criticism from lawmakers, tax campaigners and the media, according to Reuters.

A Reuters examination of Starbucks accounts that was made public in October showed that the chain had reported 13 years of losses at its U.K. unit, even as it told investors the operation was profitable and among the best performing of its overseas markets, the report said.

Washington -- The National Retail Federation on Monday issued the following statement from President and CEO Matthew Shay regarding the strike that has shut down most terminals at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. NRF last week sent President Obama a letter asking that he intervene in the strike.

Oak Brook, Ill. -- Inland Private Capital Corp. announced three employee promotions and the hiring of one new employee to the company’s senior management team. 

Effective Nov. 13, the company has promoted Keith Lampi to the position of COO and Rahul Sehgal to chief investment officer. Additionally, Joe Binder has been promoted to senior VP acquisitions; Dione McConnell has been appointed VP operations.

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — Johnson & Johnson has elected Alex Gorsky as its new chairman, board of directors, effective December 28. Gorsky, who was appointed CEO in April of this year, replaces current chairman Bill Weldon, who was with the company for 41 years.