Mergers & Acquisitions

Wilmington, Del. -- Chase Card Services, a division of JPMorgan Chase & Co., and Kohl’s Department Stores announced an exclusive marketing partnership in which Chase card members enrolled in Chase’s Ultimate Rewards program will gain access to a wide range of increased rewards benefits for shopping at Kohl’s.

Boston -- O'Connor/Real Vest Retail Holding Co., LLC, a partnership formed by O'Connor Capital Partners and Wafra Investment Advisory Group, have teamed with The Wilder Cos. to complete transactions that include the purchase of Milford Marketplace in Milford, Conn., and the acquisition of the ownership interest in Phase I of Settlers Ridge in Pittsburgh.

The centers were developed and managed by Chattanooga, Tenn.-based CBL Properties.
 

INDIANAPOLIS -- Finish Line announced that Don Courtney will retire as president e-commerce, following a transition period. Courtney will remain in his current role throughout the transition as the company conducts a search for his successor. He will continue to report to Finish Line president and chief merchandising officer Sam Sato. The e-Commerce leadership team that reports to Courtney remains in place.

Atlanta -- Commerce, Mich.-based LaVida Massage announced the opening of its second location in the Atlanta area.

The new 2,800-sq.-ft. center, located in Canton, Ga., is slated to open in May. The center will be owned and managed by Mike Spidel.
 

New York City -- Blockbuster says a bankruptcy judge has approved Dish Network's $228 million offer for the chain, paving the way for a combination of the two companies.

Dish won an auction for Blockbuster's assets earlier this week. Judge Burton R. Lifland of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of the Southern District of New York approved the bid on Thursday.

According to Dish, the deal is expected to close in the second quarter.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings Corp. said Friday that it increased the borrowing amount on its domestic revolving credit facility to $3.275 billion from $2.441 billion.

According to a report by the Associated Press, the maturity date is also extended from June 12, 2012 out to April 7, 2016. The facility also has a lower interest rates and the fee the lender charges Sears for holding available credit was reduced.

Richardson, Texas -- Wingstop has announced plans to aggressively expand its presence in the Atlanta area. The fast-growing national chicken wing chain plans to add 20 additional locations in Atlanta over the next several years.

The expansion effort begins with an Atlanta open house April 20-21 where franchise candidates will have an opportunity to learn about Wingstop's plans and meet one-on-one with company executives.

Wingstop has 480 locations throughout the United States and Mexico.

MONTREAL – U.S. discount-store operators should keep an eye on their Northern neighbors, as Canadian dollar stores continue to thrive. Anticipating their growth potential, Virginia-based Dollar Tree acquired Canada’s Dollar Giant Store in November 2010, adding 86 more stores to its repertoire and marking its first expansion outside of the United States.