Mergers & Acquisitions

Longtime RadioShack adviser Holly F. Etlin has been tapped once more as interim CFO, replacing John Feray. Citing personal reasons, Feray resigned Sept. 12, just a day after the company posted its 10th straight quarterly loss.

Etlin, a managing director of AlixPartners, has already served as RadioShack's interim CFO, from July 2013 to Feb. 2014.

RadioShack warned in a regulatory filing it may seek bankruptcy protection, with a possible sale or third-party investment as other potential avenues to remedy its ongoing financial woes.

Dallas -- Neiman Marcus Group has signed an agreement to acquire the German luxury fashion e-commerce site  Mytheresa.com and Theresa, its flagship Munich store from Christoph and Susanne Botschen and Acton Capital Partners. The transaction is expected to close later this year.

Beachwood, Ohio -- DDR Corp. announced that CEO Daniel B. Hurwitz will be leaving the company next year, as he and the board agreed not to renew his employment agreement, which expires December 31, 2015.

According to DDR, Hurwitz is expected to remain CEO through 2015 to facilitate a smooth leadership transition.

Hurwitz was named CEO on January 1, 2010, after serving as the company’s president and COO for two years prior. He has worked for DDR in various senior executive capacities since June 1999.

Hudson's Bay Company is reaping the rewards of its acquisition last year of Saks. The company’s retail sales soared 86.6% to $1.8 billion, from $948 million in the prior year.

Consolidated same-store sales increased by 1.9% on a local currency basis, with increases of 1.1% at HBC’s department store group (DSG), 2.2% at Saks Fifth Avenue and 14.9% at Off 5th. Digital commerce sales totaled $162 million, including $116 million from Saks and growth of 82.2% at DSG.

New York -- Fitch Ratings on Friday downgraded RadioShack's credit rating. On Thursday, the struggling retailer warned it may need to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Fitch cut RadioShack's issuer default rating from "C'' from "CC," which puts the chain’s credit rating one level above default.

Houston – The Mansour Group has arranged the sale of the 99% leased, 223,223-sq.-ft. Almeda Crossing Power Center located in Houston, for more than $30 million. The seller was a Texas-based developer and The Mansour Group was able to deliver the property to a national REIT.

The center is leased to an array of national tenants including Ross, Marshall’s, Staples, PetSmart, Conn’s, Party City, Show Carnival, Dollar Tree, Anna’s Linens, Aaron’s and many others and is shadow anchored by a Walmart supercenter.

Carle Place, N.Y. – 1-800-Flowers.com net income almost sextupled to $3.1 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014, compared to $538,000 in the previous year period. Continued focus on leveraging its operating platform helped boost net income.

Foothill Ranch, Calif. – Teen retailer The Wet Seal reported a new loss of $22 million for its second quarter, up from $1 million to $22 million in the year-ago period. Lower merchandise margins, higher occupancy costs, costs related to exiting its Arden B business, and non-cash asset impairment charges all helped increase Wet Seal’s net loss.

Net sales decreased 11.6% to $121.2 million, from $137.2 million. One bright spot was e-commerce, where sales rose 25%.