Mergers & Acquisitions

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens has formally set up a new company, jointly owned with Alliance Boots, as part of their strategic partnership’s synergy program.

The new company, called Walgreens Boots Alliance Development, will be based in Bern, Switzerland.

No other details were released.

Philadelphia -- Destination Maternity Corp. announced that it has entered into a new $61 million revolving credit facility with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

The new credit facility replaces the retailer's $55 million revolving credit facility with Bank of America, N.A., which was due to mature on January 13, 2013.

Boca Raton, Fla. -- Office Depot Inc. said Tuesday it has approved a poison pill defense to preclude investor Starboard Value LP from waging a takeover of the company.

The activist investor became the office-supply retailer’s largest shareholder last month and has begun pushing for changes.

The poison pill is a shareholder rights plan that would give its investors additional shares if one entity surpasses 15% ownership. Starboard owned 14.8% as of Oct. 12.

Leading payment processor Vantiv said it signed an agreement to acquire Litle & Co., a leading mobile payment processor in a deal valued at $361 million.

According to Vantiv president and CEO, Charles Drucker, the deal makes sense because e-commerce is one of the fastest growing segments of payments.

Paris -- A Tuesday report by Women’s Wear Daily said that sporting goods retailer IIC-Intersport International Corp. will acquire 100% of The Athlete’s Foot, expanding Intersport’s presence to 63 countries from its current 41.

New York -- Fifth & Pacific Cos.-owned Kate Spade said Wednesday it has completed the acquisition of joint-venture partner Sanei International Co.’s 51% interest in Kate Spade Japan Co.

Kate Spade Japan was a joint venture that was formed between Sanei and Kate Spade in August 2009. Kate Spade Japan operated the Kate Spade and Jack Spade businesses in Japan, and Kate Spade will continue to operate the businesses in Japan though its Japanese subsidiary.

The purchase price was $47.6 million.

San Francisco -- A filing disclosure on Wednesday revealed that billionaire investor Carl Icahn has built a 10% stake in Netflix, suggesting that dramatic changes in the company could loom.

The filing did not elaborate on the reasons behind Icahn’s purchase of 5.5 million Netflix shares, and Netflix has so far declined comment.

Icahn has earned a reputation for using his ownership to pressure management toward dramatic change or strategic alternatives such as a sale of the company.

Deerfield, Ill. -- Walgreens said Tuesday it has formally set up a new company, jointly owned with Alliance Boots, as part of the strategic partnership’s synergy program.

The new company, called Walgreens Boots Alliance Development GmbH, is based in Bern, Switzerland.