Mergers & Acquisitions

Eco Depot has signed a letter of intent with Water Technology Development to distribute a new portable water purification device called the WaterGizzi. Eco Depot plans to market the product as part of its eco-friendly product line, which also includes the Click and Pour and the recently acquired WaterGeeks filtration brand.

Cincinnati -- The Kroger Co. announced it has purchased the assets of YOU Technology Brand Services, the Silicon Valley-based provider of digital coupons and promotions. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

L’Oréal is reportedly buying back 8% of its shares from Nestlé, loosening their long-standing alliance.

L’Oréal will buy 48.5 million of its own shares. Following the transaction, Nestlé’s stake in L’Oréal will be reduced from 29.4% to 23.29% of the share capital and the Bettencourt Meyers family’s stake in L’Oréal will increase from 30.6% to 33.31%.

Hhgregg EVP and chief operating officer Gregg W. Throgmartin has resigned his position and spot on the company’s board of directors, effective March 31. Throgmartin is leaving to pursue outside interests and manage family businesses, the company said.

Beijing – Chinese e-commerce retailer Alibaba is reportedly planning to open a U.S. e-commerce website through its subsidiaries Vendio and Auctiva. According to Reuters, the site will operate at 11main.com.

Virginia Beach, Va. — Lowe’s Home Center has sold a 13.5-acre property to a private developer based in Virginia Beach for $9 million. Divaris Real Estate represented the seller, Lowe’s, in the transaction. Located one mile north of The Town Center of Virginia Beach, was once a neighborhood grocery-anchored shopping center. Lowe’s Home Center purchased the property in 2007, clearing and preparing it for future development. The new buyer plans to build another shopping center or mixed-use development on the site.

CVS Caremark’s fourth-quarter results came in at the high end of expectations and helped produce a record year; however, one of the key topics analysts discussed was the company’s recent decision to stop selling tobacco products in all its stores by Oct. 1.

New York – Aeropostale Inc. is reportedly considering trying to raise private equity capital. According to Reuters, four anonymous sources said Aeropostale is working with the investment bank Barclays plc to consider options including private equity capital as well as a sale of the company.