Mergers & Acquisitions

Beachwood, Ohio -- Buyout firm The Blackstone Group and real estate investment trust DDR Corp. will buy 46 shopping centers owned by EPN Group for $1.43 billion, which includes the assumption of at least $945 million in debt.

Blackstone Real Estate Partners VII, an affiliate of Blackstone, will own 95% of the joint venture. DDR will own 5% and invest $150 million in preferred stock with a fixed dividend rate of 10%.

New York City -- David Yurman on Wednesday announced that Glen T. Senk will join the fine-jewelry company as CEO, effective Feb. 27. Senk, who on Tuesday announced he was stepping down as CEO of Urban Outfitters, will take an ownership stake in the privately owned company.

Dallas -- SRS Real Estate Partners said it has hired Stephanie Estabrook as a research consultant in the Denver office.

Previous to SRS, Estabrook worked for Edgemark Development where she was responsible for research and acquisitions.

Smart move by Target to open its first wave of Canadian stores in Ontario, as the province accounts for roughly one third of the nation’s 36 million residents and is home to Target Canada headquarters and distribution facilities.

New York City -- Discovery Communications said Tuesday that Liz Claiborne Inc. CFO Andrew Warren is joining the company as finance chief.

Warren will succeed Brad Singer, who said last year he would depart Discovery at the end of March.

Liz Claiborne recently disclosed that Warren was leaving the company, saying he was pursuing an opportunity "in the media industry."
 

MONTVALE, N.J. — Grocer A&P has announced plans to shutter 14 stores in four states as it prepares to emerge from bankruptcy.

The company has filed a motion with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York seeking approval to close the stores. The store closures are expected to be completed in the company's fiscal first quarter, subject to court approval.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — Discovery Communications announced that has named formed Liz Claiborne executive Andrew Warren to the position of senior EVP and CFO. Warren will join Discovery on March 26, and will be based at the company's global headquarters in Silver Spring, Md. Warren succeeds Brad Singer who previously announced that he is leaving Discovery at the end of March.

New York City -- Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services said Monday it has hired Joseph C. French Jr. to serve as a senior director of its National Retail Group. French was previously with Sperry Van Ness, where he specialized in retail property sales.

Marcus & Millichap also hired French’s team of investment specialists Thomas C. Dalzell, Schuyler Boylan and Amie Segel.