Mergers & Acquisitions

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings announced that Alasdair James has joined the company as president and chief member officer for the Kmart business.

James is a seven-year veteran of Tesco, where he held roles of increasing responsibility, most recently as commercial director for the company's global business unit. Prior to that, he spent two years managing Tesco's China operations as executive VP and commercial director.

Philadelphia -- Capping a turbulent summer for maternity apparel retailers, Destination Maternity CEO Ed Krell has resigned effective immediately, and will be replaced by Anthony Romano, former CEO of Charming Shoppes, Inc.

Unprecedented volatility and declining milk volumes caused leading dairy supplier Dean Foods to report a second quarter loss and suspend full year guidance.

Sales increased to 9% to $2.4 billion, but the company reported an adjusted loss of $13 million, or 14 cents a share, compared to a prior year adjusted profit of $24 million, or 26 cents a share.

Orlando, Fla. -- Darden Restaurants, Inc., which operates the Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse banners among others, has completed the repurchase of approximately $900 million of the previously announced $1 billion debt retirement, leaving approximately $1.6 billion of debt on its balance sheet.

The nation’s largest retailer of used cars has turned to the CPG world to hire Jim Lyski as its new chief marketing officer.

Lyski spent the past three years as chief marketing officer at The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company where he led all brand responsibilities, including global innovation, product development, positioning, advertising, packaging, pricing and promotions. Prior to Scotts, Lyski was CMO at Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. He has also held marketing roles at Cigna Healthcare and FedEx.

New York -- Lululemon Athletica Inc.’s founder, Dennis "Chip" Wilson, reached an agreement to sell half his stake in the women's yoga-wear company to Advent International of Boston for $845 million. The deal will give Advent, which owned shares of Lululemon from 2005 to 2009 and was one of the company's early venture capital backers, 20.1 million shares, or 13.9% of the company (Lululemon went public in 2009). It also gives Advent two seats on the board, including Advent's managing partner David Mussafer, who will become co-chairman of the retailer.

Redmond, Wash. – Microsoft Corp. is reportedly negotiating to open a new store on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. According to the New York Daily News, the site is only a few blocks from Apple’s large “glass cube” store in New York.

Miami Beach, Fla. -- Terranova Corp. and Acadia Realty Trust have reportedly agreed to sell six retail buildings on Lincoln Road in Miami for $342 million. According to the Miami Herald, the buildings were purchased for a combined $191 million in 2011 and 2012, marking a $151 million profit in a few years.

Tenants include Starbucks, Fossil, and A/X Armani Jeans. The deal is with an unnamed institutional investor and is not yet completed. It ranks as the most expensive retail real estate transaction in Miami history.