Mergers & Acquisitions

Framingham, Mass. – The office supply retail vertical may be in for more consolidation. According to the Wall Street Journal, Staples Inc. and Office Depot Inc. are in the “advanced stages” of negotiations to combine the two biggest U.S. office supply chains.

Walgreens Boots Alliance has appointed Marco Pagni, formerly group legal counsel and chief administrative officer of Alliance Boots, as EVP and global chief legal and administrative officer, effective immediately.

Walgreens Boots Alliance has appointed Marco Pagni, formerly group legal counsel and chief administrative officer of Alliance Boots, as EVP and global chief legal and administrative officer, effective immediately.

Luxury beauty retailer Bluemercury was acquired by Macy’s and the retailer announced another round of extensive personnel changes, including a new head merchant, that are designed to bolster its omnichannel, international and alternative format growth prospects.

Macy’s said it signed an agreement to acquire the 60 store specialty retailer Bluemercury for $210 million and would continue to operate the company as a standalone business while infusing existing Macy’s stores with the specialty retailer’s high end brands.

Deerfield, Ill. - Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. has named Marco Pagni, formerly group legal counsel and chief administrative officer of Alliance Boots, as executive VP and global chief legal and administrative officer. In this role, Pagni will oversee all global legal affairs for Walgreens Boots Alliance and its divisions, including strategy and mergers and acquisitions, working with acting CEO Stefano Pessina.

Berkeley, Calif. -- Donahue Schriber Realty Group acquired Gilman Village on January 30, marking the Costa Mesa, California-based company’s second Bay Area acquisition in the past month.

Besides the Gilman Village acquisition in Berkeley, California, Donahue Schriber purchased Village Oaks shopping center, a 320,000-sq.-ft. property anchored by Target and Safeway located in San Jose, California.

St. Petersburg, Fla. -- In 2014, The Sembler Co. said it saw increased activity across business segments, from more than 700,000 sq. ft. of new and renewed leases, to expanding the company’s geographical reach.

Ann Arbor, Mich. - RPM Pizza LLC, the largest U.S. Domino's franchise, is getting a little bigger. RPM has acquired 45 Domino's stores throughout Indiana. RPM Pizza, headquartered in Gulfport, Mississippi, will purchase 45 stores in Indiana in the biggest franchise-to-franchise purchase in Domino's history.

The acquisition includes nearly 40 stores in the Indianapolis metro area, and stores serving South Bend and Lafayette. Once completed, the acquisition will give RPM Pizza operations in seven states, employing more than 3,800 workers.

Moorseville, N.C. - Lowe's Companies Inc. has appointed James H. Morgan, 67, to the company's board, effective immediately. Today's announcement brings Lowe's board of directors to 12 members, 11 of whom are independent.

Mumbai, India – Alibaba may not be the only large Asian e-commerce retailer selling shares in the U.S, stock market. Leading Indian e-commerce platform Flipkart is reportedly considering launching a $5 billion U.S. IPO.