Mergers & Acquisitions

Cleveland, Ohio --Forest City Enterprises, Inc., announced the creation of a new leadership position to support the company’s growing presence in the Texas real estate market.  

Effective immediately, Brian Ratner has been promoted to president of Forest City Texas and will lead the company’s Texas operations from its regional office in Dallas.    

Frisco, Texas -- The City of Frisco executed a Memorandum of Understanding with Forest City Development and its partner, Ernest Mahard Jr. to develop a 320-acre mixed-use development on the southwest corner of the Dallas North Tollway and U.S. Highway 380. 

Bounded by Virginia Parkway and County Road 26, this development will encompass retail, residential, office, entertainment, hospitality, municipal parks and services. 

New York City -- Liberty Media Corp. has offered to buy Barnes & Noble in a deal valued at about $1 billion, which represents a 20% premium over the bookseller’s market value Thursday. Barnes & Noble said Thursday that the cash offer, which the Wall Street Journal called a “stunner,” is worth $17 a share.

The companies have yet to sign an agreement.

 Norwalk, Conn. -- Construction and engineering company Emcor Group Inc said it agreed to buy privately owned USM Services Holdings Inc from Transfield Services Ltd. for $255 million in cash to broaden its position in the facilities and maintenance services business.

Austin, Texas -- The Weitzman Group announced that Bradley Bailey has been named senior VP and director of investment sales for Central Texas and The Valley for The Weitzman Group.

Bailey will work with Lance Morris, president of The Weitzman Group in Austin, and David Nicolson, president of Weitzman’s San Antonio office. 

In this new position, Bailey will handle investment sales and marketing for retail and commercial properties. 

New York City -- Discount retailer Syms Corp. was urged by a shareholder to stem losses in its clothing business and sell some of the real estate holdings accumulated by late founder Sy Syms.

According to a Friday report by Bloomberg, Capstone Equities Capital Management LP sent a letter to Syms directors and CEO Marcy Syms on Thursday advocating asset sales, share buybacks and other steps to “enhance shareholder value.” 

New York -- Bombay Company said Kroger Co. has introduced select Bombay furniture, accessories and gifts at 180 of its stores, Furniture Today reported. 

The merchandise mix includes “mirrors, vases and novelty accents, as well as furniture pieces such as chairs, upholstered pieces, accent tables and iconic Bombay coffee tables," Bombay said in a release. 

New York City -- Cushman & Wakefield announced that Matthew Winn has been appointed senior managing director, U.S. Retail Services Leader. He will be based in Cushman & Wakefield’s Atlanta office.

Previously, Winn served as managing director for Cushman & Wakefield’s retail consulting group.