Mergers & Acquisitions

HERSHEY, Pa. — The Hershey Company  has named Leslie Turner SVP, general counsel and secretary, effective July 9.

In her new role, Turner will lead Hershey’s legal, government relations, corporate security and corporate secretary functions. She will report to John Bilbrey, president andCEO, The Hershey Company. She also will serve as a member of the company’s global leadership team.

San Francisco -- The Gymboree Corp. and procurement management firm LogicSource announced Thursday an agreement under which LogicSource will provide procurement and management expertise to deliver cost savings to Gymboree.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

IRVINE, Calif. — Vizio has agreed to let Curtis International Ltd., which sells digital televisions in the United States and Canada under the Curtis brand, become a licensee under Vizio's QAM patent portfolio. The parties have not disclosed financial terms of the agreement under which Curtis has agreed to make royalty payments to Vizio for sales of licensed products.

Beachwood, Ohio -- Blackstone's flagship real estate fund and DDR Corp. announced Thursday hat a joint venture formed by the two entities has closed on the acquisition of a portfolio of 46 shopping centers previously owned by EPN Group.

The joint venture has assumed approximately $635 million of senior non-recourse debt and has originated an additional $320 million non-recourse loan facility, which has a five-year term.

Garden City, N.Y. -- Starbucks Coffee Co. has appointed Sabre Real Estate Group LLC as its exclusive broker for northern New Jersey.

Sabre’s Scott Sher and Russel Helbling will spearhead the cafe chain’s site search in Bergen, Passaic, Essex, Union and Hudson Counties, where the chain currently has 52 locations.

Dallas -- Alliance Data Systems has agreed to acquire The Bon-Ton Stores’ private-label credit card portfolio worth $475 million.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Alliance Data, which provides private-label credit card services to retailers, will also manage the retailer's private-label credit card program.

Bon-Ton Stores, Inc., operates 272 stores in 23 states across the Northeast, Midwest, and upper Great Plains, under a variety of banners.
 

Youngstown, Ohio -- Cafaro Co. has announced it is actively seeking to expand its portfolio of enclosed malls.

According to the company, each potential acquisition property must demonstrate historic, stabilized net operating income and minimum sales of $300 per sq. ft. Cafaro said is interested in malls with a minimum gross leasable area of 600,000 sq. ft. in trade areas of 200,000 – 450,000 residents.
 
Cafaro currently owns and oversees more than 30 million sq. ft. of commercial real estate in 11 states.
 

Harrisburg, Pa. -- Dollar General Corp. will locate its new distribution center in Bethel Township, Berks County, Pa., creating more than 500 jobs in the area and facilitating the retailer’s expansion in the state.