Mergers & Acquisitions

Pleasanton, Calif. -  Blackhawk Network has completed the acquisition of Dallas-based CardLab Inc., an online provider of customizable prepaid incentive and rewards cards. The deal is part of Blackhawk's strategy to extend its prepaid card solutions from physical and online retail channels into the business-to-business channels that issue incentives and rewards to consumers, customers and employees.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Fremont, Calif. – Non-deductible costs related to the purchase of Jos. A. Bank helped sharply reduce net earnings at The Men’s Wearhouse during the second quarter of fiscal 2014. The Men’s Wearhouse reported net earnings of $12.3 million, down 71% from $42.9 million the same period a year earlier, although the total still beat Wall Street projections.

Non-deductible costs related to the purchase of Jos. A. Bank helped sharply reduce net earnings at The Men’s Wearhouse during the second quarter of fiscal 2014.

The Men’s Wearhouse reported net earnings of $12.3 million, down 71% from $42.9 million the same period a year earlier, although the total still beat Wall Street projections.

Phoenix — Vestar, a privately-held real estate company in the western U.S. that acquires and manages retail and entertainment destinations, has named Jenny Cushing as assistant VP of leasing. Cushing will be responsible for overseeing and growing the leasing efforts throughout Vestar’s California, Arizona & Nevada projects.