Mergers & Acquisitions

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — A $62 million tax benefit in the second quarter, alongside a portion of a special cash dividend Costco received in December 2012, helped bolster the company's net income for the first 36 weeks of fiscal 2013, ended May 12. 

ATLANTA — Coregistics, a packaging supply chain services company, has acquired Cano Packaging, a Chicago-area company that specializes in primary contract packaging services for food and confectionary manufacturers.

Dallas -- SRS Real Estate Partners said that Townsand Cropsey has joined the firm as senior associate in the Newport Beach office.

Cropsey will focus on tenant representation and investment services.



The company also announced that Katie Carlisle has been named an associate in the Austin office. Carlisle is actively involved in project leasing and tenant representation with a focus on development. She comes to SRS from The Retail Connection.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Kid Brands announced late today that it has appointed James Christl as SVP and CFO. He replaces Guy Paglinco, who has resigned as CFO "to pursue other opportunities."

Paglinco has agreed to remain with the company full-time through July 5 to ensure a smooth transition, and has reportedly agreed to make himself available to the company for up to six months following his departure, if deemed necessary.

New York – Anthony Ludru has been named senior VP of North America by Tiffany & Co.

Ledru, 40, has luxury industry experience including with Cartier in Latin America and the U.S., as well as serving as global VP of sales with Harry Winston International.

“As a member of the senior management team, Anthony will drive sales results in our largest region, composed of the United States and Canada, while contributing a key voice to the articulation of the global brand.,” said Tiffany executive VP Frederic Cumenal.

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Bi-Lo Holdings, parent company of the Bi-Lo and Winn-Dixie grocery store brands, has entered into an agreement to buy three chains from Belgium-based Delhaize Group. Bi-Lo said it would acquire substantially all of the stores in the Sweetbay, Harveys and Reid’s supermarket chains from Delhaize for $265 million in cash.

Melville, N.Y. -- Sbarro is expanding its international growth with plans to open 20 eateries in Ontario, Canada. This announcement is the latest in a series of franchise agreements that have recently expanded Sbarro's presence across Europe, the Middle East, South America, Asia and the Pacific.

ST. LOUIS — Brown Shoe Company Inc. reported a net loss and declining net sales in first quarter 2013 as the company cited the impact of having exited some businesses in the past year.

The retailer experienced a net loss of $10.8 million, compared to net earnings of $1.7 million a year earlier. Net sales declined about 1% to $588.7 million from $598.2 million.

However, Brown Shoe said that taking $10.4 million in net sales from exited brands during the first quarter of last year into account, net sales actually slightly improved this year.