Mergers & Acquisitions

San Jose, Calif. – EBay is offering $3.48 billion in debt bonds in a sale that will close July 28. EBay intends to use the net proceeds from the offering, for general corporate purposes including loan repayments.

$400 million of the debt will mature in 2017, with the rest coming due in stages through 2024.

By Sandy Skrovan, U.S. research director at Planet Retail

Rite Aid has appointed former Roundy’s executive Darren Karst as EVP and CFO, effective Aug. 20, to succeed Frank Vitrano, who has announced he will retire in Sept. 2015. Karst will report to Rite Aid’s chairman and CEO John Standley.

Karst will be responsible for all aspects of the company’s finance, accounting, treasury, tax, investor relations, legal, risk management, internal assurance and asset protection functions.

Camp Hill, Pa. -- Rite Aid Corporation announced that Darren Karst is joining Rite Aid as executive VP and CFO, effective Aug. 20.

Karst succeeds Frank Vitrano, who has announced he will retire in September, 2015. Until then, Vitrano retains the chief administrative officer responsibilities for the company’s information technology, real estate and indirect procurement functions. He will also serve as a key resource in the development and execution of new business and growth initiatives.

Supervalu posted $5.23 billion in net sales for the first quarter, a decrease of 0.1% from $5.24 billion last year; but president and CEO Sam Duncan expressed confidence in the company’s performance, saying it is off to a solid start across business segments.

“Our first quarter results reflect the investments we are making this year to position the company for future success and I am pleased with our operating performance,” said Duncan.

Charlotte, N.C. will be home to the new global headquarters of Sealed Air Corp., as the global packaging company opens a state-of-the art, environmentally-sustainable campus to house its research and development facilities and corporate offices.

The $7.7 billion company said over the course of the next three years it will relocated roughly 1,300 jobs to North Carolina from its existing headquarters in Elmwood Park, N.J., and other facilities nationwide. Sealed Air employs roughly 25,000 people and is known for brands such as Cryovac, Bubble Wrap and Diversey.

Dayton, Ohio -- Interbrand, a leading global brand consultancy, announced Wednesday that Lee Carpenter is leaving his current position as CEO of the North America region. Carpenter, CEO of Interbrand North America since 2007, will step down from his full-time role, effective July 23. He will continue to advise Interbrand during the next three months, but has decided to focus his attention on other personal opportunities.   

Leading brand consultancy Interbrand named Josh Feldmeth CEO to succeed Lee Carpenter who is leaving the firm after 12 years.

In his role as CEO of Interbrand North America, Feldmeth will be based in New York and oversee the company’s New York, San Francisco, Toronto, Dayton, Cincinnati and BrandWizard offices. Feldmeth previously served as CEO of Interbrand’s New York, San Francisco and Toronto offices. He will report to Interbrand’s global CEO Jez Frampton.