Mergers & Acquisitions

Minneapolis -- In a surprise announcement, Best Buy Co. said Tuesday that CEO Brian Dunn has resigned from the company. Company director G. Mike Mikan has been named interim CEO. Richard Schulze, the founder of Best Buy, continues to serve as chairman.

MINNEAPOLIS  — Costs related to workforce reduction contributed to $424 million, or $2 per diluted share loss, at Supervalu for its fourth quarter of fiscal 2012. For the quarter, net sales were $8.2 billion. For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, the company reported net sales of $8.7 billion and net earnings of $95 million or 44 cents per diluted share.

Toronto -- Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group and Calloway Real Estate Investment Trust, Toronto, announced Tuesday that they will launch construction on Canada’s first upscale outlet center on April 25.

The first phase of the planned 500,000-sq.-ft. center will open in summer 2013.

Toronto Premium Outlets is a 50/50 joint venture between Calloway and Simon, and will feature more than 100 upscale outlet stores.

MINNEAPOLIS — After nearly 30 years, Brian Dunn has resigned as CEO and director of Best Buy. According to the company, Dunn's decision to resign was mutually agreed upon with the company and was not the result of any disagreement with himself and Best Buy. Director G. Mike Mikan has been named interim CEO to lead the company while a search for a new CEO is underway. Richard Schulze, the founder of Best Buy, continues to serve as chairman.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil -- Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group and Latin American retail real estate company BR Malls Participacoes S.A. announced Tuesday that they signed a 50/50 joint venture agreement to develop and own outlet centers in Brazil.

The first outlet center of the joint venture is slated to open in Sao Paulo in 2013.
 

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway has named Robert Edwards president of the company. Edwards has served as Safeway's EVP and CFO since 2004.

Edwards, 56, will have overall responsibility for the company's retail operations, marketing, merchandising, corporate brands, manufacturing, distribution and finance functions.  He will continue as CFO until a successor is named to the position.

New York -- Facebook will purchase the photo-sharing application Instagram for about $1 billion in cash and stock, company CEO Mark Zuckerberg said Monday. The deal, which is the social-networking company’s largest acquisition to date, is expected to close later this quarter.

Instagram was named iPhone app of the year in 2011.

Facebook will acquire Instagram's entire team as part of the deal.

Los Angeles -- CIM Group announced the acquisition of Block 37, a five-story retail center located on the State Street retail corridor in Chicago’s Central Loop.

Block 37 is located directly across the street from Macy’s State Street. It is also in the heart of Chicago’s State Street retail corridor, which boasts a significant concentration of National Historic Landmark, National Register of Historic Places and Chicago Landmark designated buildings and attracts millions of local customers and tourists every year.