Mergers & Acquisitions

Rockford, Mich. -- Wolverine Worldwide said Tuesday it will make several organizational moves to drive future growth and global brand building in the wake of its October 2012 acquisition of the Performance & Lifestyle Group.

Washington, D.C. -- Online marketplace LivingSocial said Tuesday that former Best Buy EVP and CMO Barry Judge has been appointed its new chief marketing officer.

Judge is charged with extending LivingSocial’s leadership in the local commerce space by overseeing online and offline advertising, brand management, social media and communications.
 
Judge first joined Best Buy in 1999 to help the company launch Bestbuy.com.

Austin, Texas -- Accruent, a leading provider of real estate and facilities software, announced that it has acquired Expesite, Columbus, Ohio, a provides a suite of SaaS solutions highlighted by VisionPM, its design and construction project management product.

NEW YORK — The breakup of Supervalu to private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management could be announced as soon as Thursday when Supervalu shares third-quarter results with analysts, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal published Friday.

Bloomberg also reported that a deal between Cerberus and Supervalu was imminent. According to that Bloomberg report, Cerberus would lead an investment of around $500 million in equity.

New York -- Office Depot announced that Kevin Peters had resigned from his role as president of the retailer’s North American division, effective immediately.

Foothill Ranch, Calif. -- The Wet Seal has named John D. Goodman to serve as its new CEO, with his appointment effective Jan. 7. He replaces former CEO Susan McGalla, who was fired by the company in July 2012 amid sliding sales.

Oak Brook, Ill. -- Inland Diversified Real Estate Trust announced Monday the acquisition of a majority interest a portfolio of six grocery/home-improvement-anchored retail properties located in Las Vegas.

The properties were acquired in a joint venture between a subsidiary of Inland Diversified and affiliates of the seller Territory Inc.; the joint venture valued the portfolio at about $296 million.

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. — Central Garden & Pet Company has named John R. Ranelli as its new president and CEO, effective February 11.

Central Garden & Pet is a leading supplier of branded products for the lawn and garden and pet supplies markets. Ranelli has been a member of its board and a member of the board’s audit committee since 2010. He will remain on Central’s board and current chairman and CEO Bill Brown will remain chairman.