Mergers & Acquisitions

ITASCA, Ill. -- Jewel-Osco, a Supervalu-owned company, announced that Keith Nielsen, Jewel-Osco president, has informed the company of his retirement effective at the end of the fiscal year (Feb. 28).

Nielsen’s successor will be Brian Huff, SVP specialty retail for Supervalu. Huff will transition into the position beginning Feb. 7. All operations and business strategies will continue as normal.

Richardson, Texas -- Wingstop is expanding throughout the Baltimore-Washington corridor. The company, which has experienced more than seven years of same store sales increases, recently signed a development agreement to open 20 stores in the area over the next several years.

Business partners Rahim Kurji and Bidjaan Kassam have signed a 20-store development agreement and expect to open four locations in Baltimore and Washington, D.C., this year.

Ann Arbor, Mich. -- Borders Group said it has received a commitment from GE Capital, Restructuring Finance to provide a $550 million senior secured credit facility. Upon completion, the facility, including the obtaining of $125 million of additional junior debt financing via the conversion of vendor payables and/or external sources, will provide Borders with the financial flexibility and an appropriate level of liquidity to move forward with its strategy to reposition its business model and the Borders brand.

Borders Group has secured a $550 million financial lifeline from GE Capital that will enable it to maintain operations, but there are plenty of strings attached, which stands to reason given GE has put half a billion dollar at risk.

Canton, Mass. -- Dunkin' Donuts has signed agreements with four franchisees to develop 16 restaurants in Tampa, Orlando and Tallahassee over the next several years.

Dunkin' Donuts development throughout Florida is part of a steady and strategic growth strategy, which includes expanding in existing markets while entering new cities across the country.

Philadelphia -- Destination Maternity, free of the restructuring charges that put a dent into profits last year, said its first-quarter net income more than quadrupled, easily topping Wall Street expectations. The chain reported earnings of $5.2 million from October to December, compared with $1.3 million for the same period in the prior year.

Revenue increased 1.2% to $135.4 million.

New York City -- Walmart Canada, a unit of Wal-Mart Stores, announced that it plans to open 40 additional supercenters in its upcoming fiscal year (which runs from Feb.1, 2011 to January 31, 2012). The company is investing approximately $500 million in the project, which also includes expanding, remodeling and relocating existing stores.

Although Walmart Canada did not disclose exact locations, it did reveal that it will enter two new new markets this year: the provinces of Quebec and Manitoba.

Honolulu, Hawaii -- Colliers Monroe Friedlander, an affiliate of Colliers International, said that BlackSand Capital, LLC, a Hawaii-based real estate investment firm, acquired Pearlridge Uptown II from Inspiration International, LLC.