Mergers & Acquisitions

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Former Estee Lauder executive Suzanne Dawson has joined high-end skincare brand Murad as its new CMO. Dawson will oversee all global marketing, including brand development, advertising, public relations, creative and education for products, services and new market opportunities. She will report to GM Richard Murad.

Particularly in the current economy, it is not uncommon for purchasers, anywhere along the supply-to-distribution chain, to claim financial distress and file for bankruptcy relief.

How can a person or entity hope to collect on debts owed by a "bankrupt" purchaser? What follows is a primer on bankruptcy terms and procedures, as well as steps an unsecured creditor may follow to be in the best position to collect on what is owed without incurring substantial attorneys’ fees.

DALLAS and LOS ANGELES — Sequential Brands Group, a company that owns, markets and licenses a portfolio of consumer brands, including DVS Action Sports, will acquire Heelys, a maker of sports-inspired products targeted to the youth market.

Woonsocket, R.I. -- CVS Caremark has upped the size of its previously announced tender offers to refinance a portion of its debt. The company announced that it will buy back up to $1.33 billion in notes, up from the previously announced $1 billion.

"Through this transaction as well as our recent debt issuance, we are taking advantage of the current favorable interest rate environment. This debt refinancing will enhance our long-term debt structure and decrease our interest expense going forward,” stated Dave Denton, EVP and CFO of CVS Caremark.

NEW YORK — LittleMissMatched, a tween girls apparel and accessories brand, has been acquired by Delta Galil USA. Delta Galil USA is the U.S.-based subsidiary of Delta Galil Industries, Ltd., a global manufacturer and marketer of branded and private label apparel products for men, women and children.

Laval, Quebec City -- Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. announced that it has signed, through its wholly owned indirect subsidiary, Mac's Convenience Stores LLC, an agreement to acquire 29 stores, 25 stores are located in Illinois, three in Missouri and one in Oklahoma. The transaction is anticipated to close in December 2012.

All the stores would eventually be rebranded under the Circle K brand. Couche-Tard’s Midwest division would operate 28 of them and the other one would be operated by the Southwest division.

TORRANCE, Calif. — Smack Sportswear, a maker of custom-designed volleyball and beach active apparel, has lured the former True Religion Apparel executive Charles A. Lesser out of retirement and into its CFO spot.

Smack manufactures its Southern California-inspired apparel in its headquarters, five miles away from the home of beach volleyball.

It looks likes India’s rules against foreign direct investment in the retail sector will no longer be an impediment to Walmart’s expansion in the world’s second most populous country.