Mergers & Acquisitions

New York -- Despite rumors to the contrary, Publix is not interested in acquiring Harris Teeter, according to The Ledger.

Publix is in the midst of its first expansion into North Carolina, with plans to open two stores in the Charlotte area in 2014.

Officials with Harris Teeter recently confirmed that the 208-store chain will consider offers from potential buyers.

Denton, Texas -- Sally Beauty Holdings announced that its board has approved a new share repurchase program authorizing the company to repurchase up to $700 million of its common stock. The announcement is the first repurchase authorized by the company in 2013, but the third in the last 12 months.

New York -- Vornado Realty Trust is selling 10 million shares of J.C. Penney Co. in an unregistered secondary transaction, according to reports by CNBC and other media outlets.

Deutsche Bank is shopping around the sale of the Vornado shares, according to the report.

Vornado is Penney’s third-largest shareholder controlling some 8.5% of the company. Vornado chairman Steven Roth sits on the company's board.

Virginia Beach, Va. -- Divaris Real Estate announced that Sam McCoy has been appointed VP of the company’s new regional office in Roanoke, Va.

McCoy is charged with strategic planning, acquisition, site development, sales and leasing of commercial properties throughout the Mid-Atlantic region with an emphasis on the southwest Virginia markets.

Previously, McCoy was director of real estate at Lowe’s Cos., responsible for the development of new Lowe’s Home Improvement store sites in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Suffern, N.Y. -- Ascena Retail Group reported Monday that adjusted net income for the quarter ended Jan. 26 dropped to $42.9 million, compared with $63.7 million in the year-ago period, due in large part to expenses associated with the company’s acquisition of Charming Shoppes.

Sales soared 44% to $1.2 billion from $862 million, driven by the added Lane Bryant and Catherine’s banners. Same-store sales dipped 1%.

PLANO, Texas — Dr Pepper Snapple Group has purchased a company that bottles its beverages for much of the West, the company said.

DALLAS — Tuesday Morning has named former Michaels Stores president and CEO, Michael Rouleau as its interim CEO.

In his role as interim CEO, Rouleau will manage the company's day-to-day operations through the retention of a new CEO. He will continue to serve on the company's board of directors, which he joined in November 2012.

New York -- A Friday report by Reuters revealed that J.C. Penney CEO Ron Johnson was well aware that the retailer’s deal with Martha Stewart would step on Macy’s toes, but testified in court that the company decided to move forward anyway.

Attorneys for Macy’s in New York state court on Friday presented Johnson with an email he sent to a Penney board member saying that Stewart would have to break her agreement with Macy’s if Johnson was going to “pull off” a deal with her.