Mergers & Acquisitions

New York City -- Big Lots has decided not to sell itself after bids from private equity firms came in below the company's expectations, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The chain reportedly had received interest from several buyout firms earlier this year, following which it decided to explore a sale. Two groups of private-equity firms — Bain Capital and TPG Capital, and Thomas H. Lee Partners and Advent International — had put in final bids, but they were below Big Lots expectations, the report said.

New York City -- Target Corp. plans to spend more than it had forecast this year on its entry into the Canadian market as it nails down more of the best retail locations sooner than expected.

The retailer said it will be able to “clarify” within weeks the number and locations of the first 100 to 150 stores it will open in Canada.

“We expect to close on higher value lease transactions sooner than expected,” Target CFO Doug Scovanner told analysts on a conference call Wednesday.

Everett, Wash. -- Zumiez reported Thursday net income of $1.9 million in the first quarter, compared with a loss of $1.9 million in the year-ago period. The retailer said it plans to open 44 new stores in fiscal 2011, including its first stores in Canada.

The results for the first quarter of fiscal 2010 include costs of approximately $1.2 million associated with the relocation of the company's distribution center from Everett, Wash., to Corona, Calif.

FAIRFIELD, Conn. — The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company announced that it has finalized its acquisition of five New Jersey Shore-area Foodtown supermarkets previously owned by Norkus Enterprises Inc. The transaction involves stores in Freehold Township, Manalapan, Neptune City, Point Pleasant Beach and Long Branch. Stop &Shop currently operates 10 stores in Monmouth and Ocean counties.

New Albany, Ohio -- Abercrombie & Fitch Co. said Wednesday that overseas strength pushed its net income to $25.1 million for the first quarter, compared with a loss of $11.8 million a year earlier.

As previously reported, revenue rose 22% to $837 million, helped by a 64% surge in international revenue.

SAN FRANCISCO — Del Monte Foods Co. announced that it has appointed David West as its new CEO, effective Aug. 15. West will also join the company's board of directors in June.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Bath and Body Works announced that it has named Nick Coe, formerly president of Lands' End, as its new CEO. The current CEO of Bath and Body Works, Diane Neal, will remain in her role as CEO through summer and then transition into an advisory role with the company from San Francisco. 

Columbus, Ohio -- The Bath and Body Works unit of Limited Brands said Tuesday it has named former Lands’ End president Nick Coe as its new CEO.

Current CEO Diane Neal, at the helm since 2007, will remain in that role through the summer. After that, she will transition into an advisory role with the company and work from San Francisco, according to the company.

Before working a Lands' End, a subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corp., Coe held senior merchandising jobs at Gap’s Banana Republic and at Levi Strauss.