Mergers & Acquisitions

Bharti Walmart, Walmart's joint venture in India, has reportedly ended plans to start online operations and has fired Dippankar Halder, who was in charge of the division.

However, a spokeswoman for the company, according to The Economic Times, denied the reports and said that Bharti Walmart will continue to serve its members multiple ways, including through the e-commerce channel.

ATLANTA — Aaron's, a lease-to-own retailer specializing in the sales and lease ownership of residential furniture, consumer electronics, home appliances and accessories, announced that Hubert Harris, Jr., has been elected to its board of directors. Harris is the former CEO of Invesco North America.

AUSTIN, Texas — Newgistics, a provider of small parcel delivery, returns management and freight shipping services, has acquired AtLast Fulfillment, a Colorado-based provider of fulfillment and warehousing solutions.

Elmwood Park, N.J. -- Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services said it has promoted David E. Thurston to associate VP investments.

Most recently, Thurston held the title of senior associate in the New Jersey office. He began his career at Marcus & Millichap in 1999 as the regional manager of the New Jersey office.

Houston -- Real estate brokerage Baker Katz, an X Team International partner, announced it has acquired 310 West 19th Street in The Heights neighborhood of Houston.

The freestanding building has 4,120 sq. ft. of space and is currently occupied by Southern Dental.

Seattle -- Mobile payments took another step forward with the announcement that Starbucks Coffee Co. has entered into a partnership with Square, a mobile-payment start-up. Starbucks will invest $25 million in Square -- part of the latest round of financing -- and Starbucks chairman, president and CEO Howard Schultz will join Square’s board of directors. Square was founded in 2009 by Jack Dorsey, creator of Twitter.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark’s solid second-quarter performance and outlook has prompted the company to raise yet narrow its guidance for the year. CVS Caremark now expects to deliver adjusted earnings per share of $3.32 to $3.38 for the full year 2012, up from its previous guidance of $3.23 to $3.33.

Costa Mesa, Calif. -- Donahue Schriber announced the acquisition of its third grocery-anchored shopping center in the last two months. The company reported the close of escrow on Del Mar Heights Village Center in San Diego County, Calif., which follows the acquisitions of Four Corners Shopping Center in Washington State and Bonita Centre, also in San Diego County.