Marketing

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.

Atlanta -- Aaron's Inc. has acquired Progressive Finance Holdings LLC, a merchandise lease-to-own company, from Summit Partners in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $700 million. Aaron's expects the transaction to be double-digit accretive to cash earnings per share in 2014 and significantly more accretive in 2015.

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.

New York -- Modell’s Sporting Goods announced it has hired Deborah Fine to fill a newly created role on its executive leadership team, chief commercial officer. Among other duties, Fine will head up the retailer’s digital strategy, transforming Modell’s into an Omnichannel retailer.

Pep Boys is looking to accelerate a range of digital and physical offerings as part of a strategy called, “Road Ahead,” after the omnichannel efforts resulted in 152% growth.

Pep Boys operates 800 locations in 35 states with 7,500 service bays which differentiates the company from parts-only players such as AutoZone and Advance Auto Parts who perform basic services in their parking lots such as changing batteries or wiper blades.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings has named Arun Arora pany as senior VP and president, Home Services. In his new role with the company, Arora will be accountable for all aspects of the company's Home Services business, including in-home repair services, service contracts, carry-in repair, Sears home improvement services, parts direct, commercial sales (all Sears Holdings product categories) and Sears franchise businesses.

Gap’s Banana Republic brand has named Marissa Webb as creative director and EVP of design, effective April 28. She will report to global president of Banana Republic, Jack Calhoun.

Webb will be responsible for guiding the brand’s overall creative direction, as well as leading global product design for Banana Republic Women’s, Men’s and Accessories.  

St. Louis – Save-A-Lot will open a new 140,000-sq.-ft. food distribution center in Aurora, Colo., in June 2014. Save-A-Lot currently services its stores in this market out of the company’s distribution center located in Dallas.