Mergers & Acquisitions

Winston-Salem, N.C. - Krispy Kreme (will open 31 stores in South Africa during the next five years. The coffee retailer has signed a development agreement with KK Doughnuts SA (Pty) Ltd, that will mark its first venture into Africa.

Krispy Kreme has more than 1,000 stores in 24 countries.

Columbia, Md. – The Howard Hughes Corp. has signed several retail and restaurant leases for the public promenade at The Metropolitan Downtown Columbia, a new luxury apartment community located in Columbia, Maryland. As part of the transformation, The Howard Hughes Corp. recently completed the renovation of the historic Rouse Building into a flagship Whole Foods Market and a 27,000-sq.-ft.luxury spa and wellness center, as well as kicked off a multi-stage renovation of Merriweather Post Pavilion.

Boston – 7-Eleven Inc. has as agreed to acquire Tedeschi Food Shops Inc.'s approximately 182 convenience stores in the greater Boston area and in New Hampshire. The transaction is anticipated to close in mid-2015, subject to standard closing conditions and regulatory approvals.  

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. 7-Eleven expects to extend job offers to most Tedeschi Food Shops employees who are affected by this acquisition. Currently, 7-Eleven operates and franchises 164 stores in the greater Boston area and New Hampshire.

Boca Raton, Fla. – Office Depot is seeking a shareholder vote on its proposed $6.3 billion merger with Staples Inc. at its annual meeting on June 19. According to a statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Office Depot is requesting that shareholders approve the proposed acquisition by Staples.

In addition to approval by Office Depot shareholders, the agreement also needs to be approved by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). With all approvals in place, the deal would finalize by the end of 2015.

London - Accenture is expanding its retail practice with an agreement to acquire Javelin Group, a U.K.-based retail strategy consulting and digital transformation services provider. The acquisition will expand the capabilities of Accenture Strategy to help retailers and consumer brands accelerate their digital transformation.

Atlanta - Honey Baked Ham is consolidating three regionalized operating divisions, currently based in Georgia, Michigan and Ohio, and has also named two new top executives. The combined organization, The Honey Baked Ham Company LLC, will be headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia and will serve customers online and at more than 400 stores in 40 states across the U.S.

Canton, Mass. – Dunkin’ Donuts is recruiting franchisees to develop an estimated 10-plus new Dunkin' Donuts restaurants throughout Mobile, Alabama, and Biloxi and Jackson, Mississippi. In addition, a number of existing operating restaurants may be available for purchase.

Corte Madera, Calif. - RH (Restoration Hardware Holdings Inc.) is reportedly planning to open a more than 70,000-sq.-ft. RH Gallery format store at the Tivoli Village upscale shopping center in Las Vegas. According to the Las Vegas Review Journal, the store would be the largest Restoration Hardware location in the U.S.

New York - BGC Partners Inc., a global brokerage company servicing the financial and real estate markets, has entered into an agreement to acquire Excess Space Retail Services Inc. Excess Space is a premier provider of real estate disposition, lease restructuring and lease renewal services, as well as related valuations for retailers nationwide and currently advises on 35.6 million-sq.-ft. of retail space in North America.

New York – Sean P. Murphy has been hired as a consultant to advise management regarding strategic and other business matters. As a result, Murphy has resigned from Ralph Lauren’s board of directors.

Murphy served on Ralph Lauren’s board since November 2005. He was the CEO of Christie’s International from September 2010 through December 2014. He previously served as the president and CEO of Rodale Inc. from 2002 to December 2009, and joined Rodale in 2000 as its president and COO.