Mergers & Acquisitions

Olympia Sports announced that, effective Sept. 1, Dick Coffey, president, will be retiring.  Coffey has served Olympia Sports for more than 35 years, and for the last 12 years he has served as president. He will continue to be involved after his retirement as a member of the company’s board of directors and will consult on new store growth.

The company has named Ed Manganello, general merchandise manager, as our new president effective Sept. 1.  Manganello started his career with Olympia in 1992.

Foothill Ranch, Calif. -- The Wet Seal announced Monday that it has hired Ken Seipel as president and COO, effective March 28.

Seipel will report to CEO Susan P. McGalla.

Seipel was previously president and chief merchandise/marketing officer of Pamida Discount Stores LLC, a regional general merchandise discount retailer. Prior to that, he was executive VP of stores, operations and store design for the Old Navy division of Gap.

New York City -- ACI Worldwide, an international provider of payment systems, announced that it has acquired ISD Corp. to broaden the functionality of its payments solutions for retailers. ISD is a provider of secure payment management software and solutions for retailers in the United States and Canada.

With the addition of 140 customers from ISD, ACI now has more than 220 retailers worldwide running ACI payment systems.

SEATTLE, Wash.  -- MOGO Design, a Seattle-based company that has developed a new and patented magnetic accessory line for tween girls, announced that it has signed a national distribution deal with Nordstrom. The deal will bring the MOGO charm line with more than 200 charms to all Nordstrom full-line store locations throughout the United States and is MOGO Design's large-scale debut into the fashion specialty retailer channel. MOGO is available in select locations now with the full roll-out to be complete by April 2011. 

Toronto -- Canadian discounter The Bargain Shops said Tuesday it has hired Beryl Jack Buley, former division president of Dollar General Corp., as its CEO.

The retailer said it is prepping for Target Corp.’s takeover of former Zellers stores across Canada in two years, which could shift some of Bargain Shop customers over to Target.

According to an Associated Press report, however, Buley said he is not worried about the impending competition from Target, saying that “enormous opportunity” remains in Canada.

New York City -- Information on Tuesday confirmed that private equity firm Leonard Green & Partners LP is considering an offer to acquire BJ’s Wholesale Club.

Leonard Green, which already as a 9.3% ownership stake in the wholesale club operator, said in an SEC filing that it is examining confidential information provided by BJ's as it evaluates an offer.

BJ's revealed in February that it was considering selling itself.

MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO -- TB!S The Bargain Shop, a leading Canadian discount store chain, announced that Beryl Buley has been appointed president and CEO, effective immediately. Former president and CEO, Michael Roellinghoff, will assume the role of vice chairman of the board.

Orlando, Fla. -- Jones Lang LaSalle said Tuesday it has appointed Carson Good to lead the firm’s retail capital market business throughout Florida.