Mergers & Acquisitions

New York – J. Crew is reportedly planning to expand into Asia. According to the Wall Street Journal, J. Crew will open two new stores in Hong Kong on May 21.

The Hong Kong stores will be J. Crew’s first Asian stores since it closed its stores in Japan in 2008. In 2012, J. Crew said it planned to open stores in Hong Kong, and the U.K., and opened three U.K. stores in 2013. The retailer plans to open five or six stores in Hong Kong in the next few years, and may also open new stores in Japan.

Greenwich, Conn. – Merger and acquisition (M&A) dealflow in the retail mobile payment sector has risen 500% between 2009 and 2013, while investment dealflow has grown 300%. According to data from Mooreland Partners, a mid-market investment bank specializing in technology deals, there were 232 M&A deals in this sector from 2009-213, and 259 from 1999-2013.

Gordon Brothers Group, a global advisory, restructuring and investment firm specializing in the retail, consumer products, industrial and real estate sectors, has appointed Michael P. Muldowney as CFO. Muldowney also serve as a member of the executive committee.
 
Prior to joining Gordon Brothers Group, Muldowney was the founder and CEO of Foxford Capital, a strategic, financial advisory and investment management firm. Prior to this role, he served as interim CEO, EVP and CFO of global education leader, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Robert Price, former SVP and CMO for CVS, has been named president of Edible Arrangements International.

The operator of more than 1,100 stores worldwide is looking to Price to help significantly grow the brand's global presence.

Office Depot has integrated its Office Depot and OfficeMax brands by launching on Sunday a single, combined insert offering savings on products and services being offered at both retail banners.

The move marks the first advertisement where Office Depot and OfficeMax customers will see the two national brands together as one.

London - Sainsbury’s has selected Quantum Retail Technology to provide software and services to help optimize its fashion and general merchandise inventory through improved allocation and replenishment functionality.  

Toronto - Sears Canada Inc. has entered into an agreement for the sale of its 15% minority ownership interest in the Centre commercial Les Rivières shopping centre in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, for $33.5 million. Ivanhoé Cambridge, who holds the center in a joint arrangement with Sears Canada, is purchasing the 15% interest that it does not already own from Sears.

Wallingford, Conn. - Robert Price, former senior VP and chief marketing officer for CVS/pharmacy, has been named president of Edible Arrangements LLC. At CVS/pharmacy, Price led all marketing, advertising, sales promotion, e-commerce, customer insights, store design and customer loyalty programs.

Prior to CVS/pharmacy, Price's held positions with Wawa Food Markets; H-E-B Grocery Stores; Imasco Limited (the former parent company of Hardees and Roy Rogers Restaurants); and The Monitor Company, a strategy consulting firm.