Mergers & Acquisitions

Bellevue, Wash. -- Coinstar, best known for its Redbox movie rental and its namesake coin-counting kiosks, and Seattle’s Best Coffee, part of Starbucks Coffee Co., have entered into an agreement to roll out Coinstar's new Rubi coffee kiosk in groceries, drug stores and mass merchants. The kiosks will feature a variety of Seattle's Best Coffee beverages.

The rollout will begin this summer, with approximately 500 kiosks expected by the end of the year and thousands of machines in place during the next several years.

ST. LOUIS — Save-A-Lot is poised for substantial growth in South Florida when it completes its new distribution center in Pompano Beach. The 250,374 sq. ft. DC is expected to open by February 2013 and will and employ more than 30 employees initially, with the potential for hiring additional employees once the facility is at full capacity, the company said. The project is the result of collaboration with KTR Capital Partners and Butters Construction.

New York -- Claire’s Stores Inc. has named James D. Fielding, former president of Disney Stores Worldwide, as CEO, effective June 18, 2012. Fielding, who resigned from Disney on Monday, will also join Claire’s board of directors.

“I look forward to capitalizing on the many growth initiatives available to the company, including new stores, development of the Icing concept, continued international expansion in markets such as Mexico, India and China, and optimization of e-commerce,” Fielding said in a statement.

Matthews, N.C. -- Family Dollar Stores said Tuesday it has entered into a multi-year agreement with Coinstar to provide Redbox kiosks at Family Dollar locations across the United States.

“As Family Dollar continues to broaden its assortment and increase relevancy to our customer, Redbox is a natural addition to our growth initiatives,” said Michael Bloom, president and COO, Family Dollar.
 

New York -- Brooks Bros. Group and Reliance Brands Limited announced Tuesday the formation of a joint venture company in India.

Reliance Brands, a division of Reliance Industries Group, will use its local connections to bring the American brand to India.

New York -- The Boston-based private equity firm Thomas H. Lee Partners has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Party City Holdings Inc., Rockaway, N.J., in a deal valued at $2.69 billion.

Seattle -- Eddie Bauer announced Tuesday that Michael R. Egeck has been named its president and CEO, replacing interim CEO David Chamberlain who will remain a member of the board.

Egeck was most recently CEO of Hurley International, a division of Nike. He has also served as president of True Religion.

Charlotte, N.C. -- Harris Teeter Supermarkets entered into an agreement with Lowe’s Food Stores whereby Harris Teeter will acquire 10 Lowes locations in the central Carolinas region and Lowes Foods acquiring six Harris Teeter store locations in western North Carolina.

In addition to the six Harris Teeter stores, Harris Teeter has agreed to pay Lowes Foods $26.5 million. The transaction is expected to be completed in the company’s third quarter of fiscal 2012, which ends July 1, 2012.