Mergers & Acquisitions

Minneapolis -- Christopher & Banks Corp. announced Friday that it will close about 100 underperforming stores over the next three months, as part of a restructuring plan that also includes format consolidations and workforce reductions.

The women’s apparel retailer said it plans to complete most of the store closings by the end of January 2012, and will accelerate plans to convert or consolidate a number of its existing Christopher & Banks and CJ Banks stores into dual-format stores.

Seattle -- Starbucks Corp. announced Thursday plans to reinvent the $1.6 billion premium juice market with its all-cash purchase of San Bernadino, Calif.-based Evolution Fresh for $30 million.

The acquisition, which is part of a strategy to move beyond coffee into the health and wellness segment, gives Starbucks a path to open new health-and-wellness stores in the coming year, it said, although Starbucks has not yet revealed many stores it will open, their location or the name.

Philadelphia -- Urban Outfitters Inc. announced a series of management changes across all its brands, including naming David W. McCreight to the new position of CEO, Anthropologie Group, effective Nov. 15.

McCreight, 48, most recently served as president of Under Armour, from 2008 until 2010. Prior to that, he was president of Lands' End from 2005 to 2008.

Canton, Mass. -- Dunkin' Donuts announced the signing of a multi-unit store development agreement with father and son team, Jim and Drew Cownie for 12 new restaurants in Des Moines, Iowa.

The first restaurant is slated to open in 2012 and the remainder by 2018.

Seattle -- Online jewelry retailer Blue Nile announced that CEO Diane Irvine has resigned from the company, effective Nov. 11.

Vijay Talwar, senior VP and general manager of international, has been appointed interim CEO. During the transition period, chairman Mark Vadon will take an active role in the leadership of the company, working closely with Talwar. Vadon will also lead the search for a permanent CEO.
 

Secaucus, N.J. -- Syms Corp. said that its stock will be delisted as of November 15, 2011 and that Nasdaq will file a Form 25-NSE with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which will remove the company’s securities from listing and registration on the Nasdaq.

This decision by Nasdaq comes following Syms announcement on November 2, 2011 that it and its subsidiaries filed petitions for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
 

Sidney, Neb. -- Cabela’s Inc. announced the signing of a new credit facility with a consortium of financial institutions led by U.S. Bank.

The new $415 million, five-year credit facility replaces Cabela’s existing $350 million, five-year agreement signed in 2007. Additionally, the new facility may be increased to $500 million subject to certain terms and conditions.

City of Industry, Calif. -- Hot Topic Inc. said that its CEO, Lisa Harper, 52, has also been named its board chairwoman.

Former chairman Bruce Quinnell will stay on as chairman of the audit committee, but he will not seek re-election to the board when his term ends in June, the company said.

The company also said Matthew Drapkin was named lead director.