Mergers & Acquisitions

Better than expected holiday season and full year profitability at Toys “R” Us has the left the company optimistic about 2016 and looking at a financial restructuring which could free resources for growth initiatives.

Toys “R” Us said its estimated, unaudited and adjusted earnings before interest taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) increased 21% to $780 million during the fiscal year ended Jan. 30. Excluding a $42 million negative impact of foreign currency translation EBITDA grew 28%.

The year 2015 was a big one for mergers and acquisitions in the retail and consumer sectors, with 31 multibillion dollar deals driving activity during the year.

United States retail and consumer (R&C) total transaction value for 2015 hit a five-year high and surpassed the $100 billion mark for the third year in a row, according to PwC’s U.S. retail and consumer deals insights 2015 Year in Review and 2016 Outlook report.

Columbus, Ohio -- WP Glimcher has completed the sale of Forest Mall in Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin and Northlake Mall in Atlanta. The two non-core assets were sold to private real estate investors for $30 million.

Woodstock, Ga. -- Transwestern’s Southeast Investment Services Group announced it brokered the disposition of East Cherokee Village Shoppes for $13 million. New Orleans-based PMAT Cos. acquired the 128,667-sq. ft., Publix-anchored shopping center is located in Woodstock, Georgia. Transwestern VP Fred Victor and managing director Kevin Markwordt represented the private seller.

Upper Darby, Pa. -- Metro Commercial Real Estate announced that is has negotiated the sale of the 307,000-sq.-ft. Home Depot Plaza in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania.

The purchaser, a life insurance company, values the long-term nature of the anchor leases, Home Depot and Acme, and the population density of the area.

Soft Surroundings has completed a dividend recapitalization that was financed through an expansion of the existing credit facility.

The women’s lifestyle retailer is in the midst of a nationwide store expansion strategy, and the new debt financing includes a designated facility to fund future store openings. The company opened 11 new stores in 2015 and has identified over 15 locations for 2016.

American Apparel founder and ousted CEO is nothing if not determined.

Days after a bankruptcy court judge rejected a takeover proposal by Hagan Capital and Silver Creek Capital Partners that would have also returned Dov Charney to a leadership position at American Apparel, the controversial founder is reportedly already at work on his return to the retail scene.

Cleveland -- Forest City Realty Trust announced that its subsidiary, Nets Sports and Entertainment has completed the previously announced sale of its equity interests in both the Barclays Center arena and the Brooklyn Nets basketball team to Onexim Sports and Entertainment Holding USA. As previously disclosed, the transaction values the team at approximately $875 million and the arena at $825 million, inclusive of debt for each asset.