Mergers & Acquisitions

Irvine, Calif. -- Pet retailer Passionate Pets said Thursday it has named Keith Martin, former senior VP operations at Petco, to its board of directors.

The company also named Todd Peterson, CPA at KSNE2 Enterprises, to the board.

The company is preparing for an IPO and, according to its president and CEO John Dunn, who worked with Martin at both Petco and Office Depot, the pair is expected to help lead Passionate Pet through the IPO stage.
 

When Quincy, Mass.’s new downtown shopping district is officially unveiled, the City will host some of America’s premier retail destinations — thanks to a first-of-its kind joint venture between Street-Works Development and National Realty and Development Corp., based in Purchase, N.Y.

The partnership was announced on Sept. 21 by the City of Quincy, Street-Works and NRDC.

New York City -- Sur La Table has been acquired by Investcorp, a global asset management firm. The Seattle-based retailer, which specializes in kitchen goods, operates 86 stores nationwide.

Investcorp acquired Sur La Table from the Behnke family and investment firm Freeman Spogli & Co., who will both remain as investors in the kitchen goods retailer. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. No management changes are expected.

Montreal -- Jewelry chain Birks & Mayors said Wednesday that its president and CEO Tom Andruskevich has said he will resign from the company, effective spring 2012, and will continue in a new board role as vice chairman.

His spring 2012 resignation is contingent upon the naming of a successor. He said he is leaving because he wants to pursue “board positions and advisory roles for luxury brands and other high-end companies.”

Andruskevich joined the company in his current capacity in June 1996.
 

Woodland Hills, Calif. -- LandMark Retail Group, a subsidiary of NewMark Merrill Cos., has partnered with Accubranch, a strategic planning and market research group that specializes in providing real estate advice to the regional banking industry.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Express announced Wednesday that it has promoted Matthew Moellering to the position of COO and appointed D. Paul Dascoli as CFO.  Moellering was previously chief administration officer and CFO.  

Prior to Moellering's role as chief administration officer and CFO, he held a number of senior finance positions including CFO since he joined Express in 2006. Before joining Express, he served in various financial positions with Limited Brands and Procter & Gamble. Prior to that, he was an officer in the United States Army.

New Orleans -- Covington, La.-based Stirling Properties announced that The Fresh Market is coming to New Orleans. The retailer will lease the 24,000 sq.-ft., two-story building on St. Charles Avenue, in the city’s Garden District, which was previously occupied by Borders. 

This location will be The Fresh Market’s fourth in Louisiana with stores already in Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Mandeville.
 

New York City -- BJ’s Wholesale Club reduced the size and increased the rate on $2.18 billion of loans backing its buyout by Leonard Green & Partners LLP and CVC Capital Partners, Bloomberg reported.

The retailer cut a first-lien piece by $50 million to $1.075 billion, the report said, citing a source who declined to be identified.