Mergers & Acquisitions

Matthews, N.C. -- Family Dollar Stores’ third quarter income plunged 33% amid higher costs and increased competition. Same-store sales fell 1.8%, which marked the third straight quarterly decline.

Family Dollar is under pressure from activist investor Carl Icahn to put itself up for sale. The company has adopted a shareholder rights plan, or "poison pill."

New York -- American Apparel Inc. has reached an agreement with its largest shareholders that will bolster its financial situation, remake its board, and keep the retailer’s manufacturing in the United States.

RPM International’s Rust-Oleum Group has acquired Krud Kutter, a marketer of specialty cleaning products for both residential and industrial markets. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Krud Kutter specializes in problem-solving cleaners and removers, which are, according to the company, water-based, biodegradable, nontoxic and VOC compliant. The brand is sold across the country in home centers, hardware stores, mass merchants and industrial supply outlets.   

Just a month after activist investor Carl Icahn became Family Dollar’s largest shareholder prompting concerns of a hostile takeover, the company reported its third straight quarterly decline in same-store sales.

Same-store sales for the third quarter ended May 31 decreased 1.8% because of fewer customer transactions, partially offset by an increase in the average customer transaction value. Sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2014 were strongest in the consumables category, driven primarily by strong growth in refrigerated/frozen food and tobacco.

Advance Auto Parts has appointed David Allen as SVP, supply chain management. Allen will report to Charles Tyson, EVP, merchandising, marketing and supply chain, and will be based in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Allen will lead the supply chain function in its efforts to support Advance’s stores and commercial customers. This includes developing strategies to support the integration of Advance’s supply chain with Carquest.

Sacramento, California — West Coast shopping center owner/operator Pacific Castle has acquired four Sacramento-area properties for approximately $40 million, signaling an ongoing trend to add to the company’s diversified portfolio.

Sellpoints, a pre-marketing platform that touts itself for help brands generate sales online, has acquired the 360° technology patent for videos and photos. 360° technology is used in e-commerce to give in-depth product tours and educate consumers about product benefits online.

According to Sellpoints, the previous patent owner sued multiple big brands to prevent them from using this technology on their websites. Sellpoints reportedly worked for five months to obtain the patent and open up its use to the e-commerce industry.

La Quinta, California —The Mansour Group has announced the sale of a 36,000-sq.-ft. Stein Mart building located in La Quinta, California. Sale price was approximately $8 million. 

The property was sold via Mansour Group by an unnamed developer to a private, all-cash investor out of San Diego.

The freestanding building is situated in Washington Park, a 600,000-sq.-ft. power and lifestyle center anchored by Lowe’s, Target, Cost Plus, Office Depot, Trader Joe’s with plans for additional construction.