Mergers & Acquisitions

Greenwich, Conn. — Urstadt Biddle Properties Inc. has acquired two shopping centers in New Jersey: Boonton A&P Center in Boonton and Bloomfield A&P Center in Bloomfield.

The company paid $18.4 million, subject to an existing $7.8 million mortgage, for the 63,000-sq.-ft. Boonton A&P Center. Constructed in 1999, the center features a 49,463-sq.-ft. A&P plus Dunkin’ donuts, Chase Bank, Subway, Supercuts and Sprint. More than 90% of the tenants are national or regional names.

Retail and consumer products industry veterans Vince Burke, Jim Gillis and Rich Juliano have founded the Burke-Gillis-Juliano Group, a global consultancy focused on the supermarket, mass retail, convenience, drug and specialty retail trade channels.

The consultancy will offer executive management, market strategy, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, business development, product marketing, trade relations and related services to leading retailers, suppliers and vendors in the United States and around the world.

Naples, Fla. - Retail and consumer products industry veterans Vince Burke, Jim Gillis and Rich Juliano have founded of the Burke Gillis Juliano Group, a global consultancy focused on the supermarket, mass retail, convenience, drug and specialty retail trade channels. Burke Gillis Juliano Group offers executive management, market strategy, mergers & acquisitions, private equity, business development, product marketing, trade relations and related services to retailers, suppliers and vendors in the U.S. and globally.

Secaucus, N.J. – The Children’s Place Retail Stores has expanded its existing franchise agreement with Fawaz A. AlHokair & Co. SJSC covering retail stores in Saudi Arabia, to include opening a total of approximately 25 stores in Egypt and the Commonwealth of Independent States (C.I.S. Region) of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia and Kazakhstan, beginning in mid-2014.

Former Kohl’s and Carhartt merchandising executive Sue Fuller was named chief merchandising officer at Vera Bradley, an upscale retailer and designer brand looking to restore growth under the leadership of new CEO Robert Wallstrom.

Oak Brook, Ill. -- Ace Hardware Corporation has appointed Tom Knox, 59, as president and CEO of Westlake Ace Hardware, Ace’s largest cooperative comprising 85 stores. Knox will be leaving his role as VP, retail business development, training & supply at Ace’s corporate offices and relocating to the Kansas City area to pursue his new role.

New York -- Hess Retail Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of global energy company Hess Corporation, has filed a Form 10 Registration Statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The form contains a preliminary information statement about the potential terms and conditions of a spin-off of Hess Retail Corporation to the stockholders of Hess Corporation.

Nehausen, Switzerland -- Tyco Retail Solutions, a provider of retail performance and security solutions, has entered into a patent license agreement with Round Rock Research, LLC regarding RFID solutions. The agreement resolves the involvement of some Tyco retail clients in a patent infringement suit Round Rock filed in January 2012.