Mergers & Acquisitions

New York -- Burger King Worldwide is in discussions to buy Canadian coffee and doughnut chain Tim Hortons. The two companies said in a joint statement on Monday that the new publicly listed entity would be based in Canada. The move comes as the White House is calling on Congress to take steps to prevent U.S. companies from moving outside the country (“tax inversions”).

The two restaurant companies are currently worth a combined total of about $18 billion, according to media reports.

New York -- Toms, the footwear company best known for donating a pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair it sells, has sold a 50% stake in its company to private equity giant Bain Capital LLC. The investment will help Toms expand its distribution in Europe, Asia and in the United States, including increasing its store count from its current two locations.

The investment reportedly values Toms at about $625 million, including debt. Blake Mycoskie, who founded Toms in 2006, will retain a 50% stake and remain at the helm.

Seattle -- Nordstrom announced today the closing of its acquisition of Trunk Club, a leading personalized clothing service for men.
 
The company previously announced its proposed acquisition of Trunk Club by press release on July 31.

New York -- Family Dollar said it favors a smaller deal with potential buyer Dollar Tree, and firmly rejected an offer for takeover by larger competitor Dollar General.

Following an $8.5 billion offer last week by Dollar Tree, Dollar General offered a $9 billion, all-cash deal.

Jackson, Tenn. -- Transwestern announced that it brokered the disposition of Lynnwood Place, a 96,666-sq.-ft. shopping center in Jackson, Tennessee. The seller was Columbia, South Carolina-based Edens, and the buyer of the Kroger-anchored retail center was Phillips Edison & Company.

Completed in 1986, Lynnwood Place encompasses 11.73 acres and is 89% eased to retailers including Kroger, Charter Communications Inc., Cato Fashions and Youfit Health Clubs.

Orlando, Fla. -- JLL’s Capital Markets experts announced the firm has closed the sale of Lake Washington Crossing on behalf of WSRI-SRP Lake Washington, LLC.

Baltimore-based Philips Edison Group, LLC, purchased the 118,698-sq.-ft. grocery-anchored shopping center, located near Florida’s ocean coast, in the town of Melbourne.

Managing Directors Kris Cooper, Margaret Caldwell and Carson Good led the JLL team on the transaction.

Seattle -- Seattle-based architecture and design firm Callison said it will be acquired by Arcadis, a global design consultancy firm based in the Netherlands.

The transaction is slated to be completed in the third quarter of 2014. Arcadis also owns architectural design firm RTKL, built asset consultancy firm EC Harris, and Asian construction program planning and value management consultancy Langdon & Seah.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings Corp. on Thursday reported a bigger-than-expected loss in its second quarter – the retailer’s ninth consecutive quarterly loss – amid weak sales. The retailer also announced it may close additional stores on top of the 130 closures already underway this year.

Sears also said Thursday the company plans to explore options with lenders to achieve more long-term capital-structure flexibility in the coming six to 12 months.