Mergers & Acquisitions

CHICAGO — True Value reported “gross billings” of $451.9 million for the fourth quarter, up 2.3% from the same quarter last year.

“Gross billings” -- a term not used in the co-op’s 2012 earnings announcement -- is a measure of the total amount invoiced to customers, without subtracting discounts or adjustments.

The company’s revenue was $340.4 million, up 3.3% from the prior-year quarter.

First it was RadioSchack and now Target has ended another electronics initiative with Best Buy.

Target and Best Buy confirmed earlier this week that they agreed to end a partnership begun last August that involved Target offering Best Buy’s Geek Squad services at 29 stores in Minneapolis and Denver. Earlier this year, Target ended a more extensive relationship with RadioShack that involved

New York -- Real estate industry veteran Laura Pomerantz said Monday she has launched a new firm, Laura Pomerantz Real Estate, focused on retail and office real estate transactions.

“As the retail landscape continues to evolve and companies re-evaluate their real estate portfolios, we look forward to working closely with our clients to develop both domestic and global real estate strategies that best facilitate growth and defines their brands,” said Pomerantz, founder and president, New York City-based Laura Pomerantz Real Estate.

St. Clairsville, Ohio -- Youngstown, Ohio-based Cafaro Co. said Wednesday that MC Sports will debut in the area with a new store at Cafaro’s Ohio Valley Mall, in St. Clairsville, Ohio, in July.

The new store will be located next to Sears, occupying nearly 23,000 sq. ft. of retail space.

Whether you are a retail analyst or a casual observer, it can be all too easy to get lost in the negativity of recent store closings and retail bankruptcies.

MERRIMACK, N.H. — Brookstone announced that it has accepted the resignation of Stephen Bebis, its president and CEO and a member of the company's board of directors. Bebis' resignation will be effective April 4. Bebis joined Brookstone in May 2012.  

Effective upon Bebis' resignation, James M. Speltz, the company's VP, COO has been appointed as the company's new president and CEO.

Beachwood, Ohio -- DDR Corp. announced Monday that, during the first quarter, it acquired two prime assets in Dallas and in Oakland, Calif., for $81 million.

Also during the quarter, DDR disposed of $46 million of non-prime assets, including $8 million of non-income producing assets.

Vancouver, British Columbia -- Lululemon Athletica Inc. said that chief product officer Sheree Waterson will be leaving Lululemon effective April 15, in what it described as a “leadership change in the product organization.”

The news comes just weeks after the specialty retailer had to recall its signature Luon-fabric yoga pants from store shelves for being too sheer. The company warned that the move could lead to shortages and dent its profit by up to $40 million this fiscal year.