Labor & Employment

Washington, D.C. -- A report released Monday by the Commerce Department showed that consumer spending in the United States rose more than forecast in February as incomes climbed.

Bloomberg News estimated spending would advance 0.5%.

Purchases increased 0.7%, the most since October, after advancing 0.3% the prior month. Incomes increased 0.3%, less than the 0.4% projected.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Brown-Forman announced today the appointment of Lawson Whiting as managing director Western Europe, based in London, effective May 1.

Bensalem, Pa. -- Charming Shoppes said it would close 240 unprofitable stores in 2011, or nearly 12% of its total outlets, and that more than half of those would be Fashion Bug stores.
 
The locations were not disclosed.

The company said all 30 of its Catherines Plus Sizes stores in outlet locations would be shuttered over a two-year period.
 

By Kenneth H. Marks, [email protected]

Great news! After a long drought of M & A activity, the market for private companies is showing signs of life and recovery. If you own, operate or advise a middle market company, $5 million to $500 million in revenue, what does this mean for you and your clients when thinking about shareholder liquidity or selling the business? And how can you improve the odds of getting a deal done?

PURCHASE, N.Y. -- PepsiCo has announced the appointment of Maura Abeln Smith to the position of EVP government affairs, general counsel and corporate secretary, effective May 5.  Smith will succeed Larry Thompson, who is retiring from the company to assume a teaching position at the University of Georgia Law School.

Smith, who will report to PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi, will be responsible for the company's worldwide legal function and government affairs organization.

PLEASANTON, Calif. -- Safeway Inc. announced that it was recognized this week by the Association of Fundraising Professionals with the organization's 2011 Freeman Philanthropic Services Award for Outstanding Corporation.

New York City -- Borders Group, which filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February and has announced plans to close about a third of its stores, said it plans to pay key employees as much as $8.3 million in incentives and retention bonuses, Bloomberg reported.

The retailer asked a judge to approve its plan in a filing Thursday in U.S. Bankruptcy Courty in New York. Borders said it has historically compensated employees through incentives.

PLEASANTON, Calif. -- Safeway Inc. announced that it was recognized this week by the Association of Fundraising Professionals with the organization's 2011 Freeman Philanthropic Services Award for Outstanding Corporation.