Mergers & Acquisitions

Dallas -- SRS Real Estate Partners announced three new hires in brokerage, marketing and research.

Scott Poehler, Alexandra Hilker and Kyle West have joined the SRS teams in Newport Beach, Calif.; Denver, and Orlando, Fla.

Scott Poehler has joined SRS as an associate in the Newport Beach office, coming to SRS from Keller Williams Realty.

Corpus Christi, Texas -- Dolphin Ventures and EWB Development announced that they will develop The Outlets at Corpus Christi Bay, located in Corpus Christi, Texas.

The project will be a partnership with the Lockard Cos.

Phase one, slated to contain 281,526 sq. ft., is targeted for a late 2013 opening.

“This center will fill a void in the Texas market and is one of the very last major tourist destinations in the U.S. without an outlet center,” said Lisa Quier Wagner of Dolphin Ventures and EWB Development.

New York -- Robert Graham announced that it has signed a lease agreement to open a store in The Mall at Short Hills, Short Hills, N.J. The store will carry the complete range of Robert Graham-branded merchandise, including men's sportswear, premium denim, tailored clothing, furnishings, accessories, outerwear, and women's sportswear.

The Robert Graham store will open this summer.

San Diego -- Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services said it has named Phil Sambazis senior director of the firm’s National Retail Group in San Diego. Sambazis joined Marcus & Millichap in March 2006 and specializes in the acquisition and disposition of retail shopping centers and net-leased investments.

Marcus & Millichap has also named Kevin W. Boeve senior director of the firm’s National Retail Group in Ontario. Boeve joined Marcus & Millichap in June 1999.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — On the eve of a potential Federal Trade Commission approval of the Express Scripts/Medco merger, Walgreens' underlying fundamentals still are strong, Walgreens president and CEO Greg Wasson told analysts Tuesday morning. It's that underlying strength that has helped Walgreens in the wake of its exit from the Express Scripts pharmacy benefit network, a factor that impacted Walgreens' net earnings by 7 cents per diluted share for its second quarter ended Feb. 29. Net earnings for the second quarter were $683 million, a 7.7% decrease.

San Francisco -- McKesson on Monday announced that it has completed the previously announced acquisition of the independent banner and franchise businesses of Katz Group Canada in an all-cash transaction that closed March 25.

By Seth Broman, [email protected]

Despite news of a slowly recovering economy, small businesses are still being overwhelmingly turned down for bank loans. Tight credit restrictions and high loan eligibility requirements are leaving retailers with a lack of access to credit, stunting their ability to prosper and contribute to economic growth.

New York -- 7-Eleven Inc. plans to open 15 to 20 stores this year in the Jacksonville, Fla., market and 80 locations by 2015, according to the Florida Times-Union.