Trading Partners

Ascena Retail Group began a search for a new CFO after its current EVP and CFO, Dirk Montgomery, resigned this week. As the company reviews potential new CFOs, Ascena board member and audit committee chair Randy Pearce, will have more involvement with the company’s finances.

Montgomery is expected to stay in his position until the fall, when he will move on to a Florida-based healthcare company, where he recently accepted an offer to be closer to his family.

Dollar Tree said it would acquire Family Dollar in a transformational cash and stock deal valued at $8.5 billion to create a company with more than 13,000 stores and annual sales of $18 billion.

The deal was unanimously approved by the boards of both companies and involves Dollar Tree paying Family Dollar shareholders $59.60 in cash and $14.90 in equivalent Dollar Tree shares.

Tiffany’s long-standing CEO Michael J. Kowalski will retire from the company March 31, 2015. Kowalski, who has been a member of the company’s board of directors since 1995, will continue to serve as non-executive chairman.

The board has tapped Frederic Cumenal, currently the company’s president, as Kowalski’s successor; he will step up to the CEO role April 1, 2015.

Kowalski joined Tiffany in 1983, became CEO in 1999 and assumed the role of chairman of the board in 2003.

Newell Rubbermaid has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Ignite Holdings from North Castle Partners, a leading private equity firm focused on consumer businesses that promote healthy, active and sustainable living.

San Francisco - DHgate.com, an e-commerce marketplace focused on cross-border trade of Chinese goods, has hired several new executives. These include COO Noah Herschmann, who previously held management roles at Amazon, Groupon, Asia, Staples China and Tweeter.

Salt Lake City - Frederic Van Roie has joined the business development team of Big Data management software provider Park City Group.

Van Roie is a 25-year veteran of the retail, CPG and foodservice industries with expertise in marketing and merchandising strategies at several premier retailers, including Costco, BJ’s, Home Depot, Whole Foods, D’Agostino’s, Walmart and Safeway.

Hampshire Group signed a master supply agreement with Levi Strauss & Company in which Hampshire will supply knit shirts, woven shirts and sweaters to Dockers’ global business.

Union, N.J. - Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. has priced three series of senior unsecured notes for an aggregate principal amount of $1.5 billion. Of these notes, $300 million will mature in August 2024, $300 million will mature in August 2034, and $900 million will mature in August 2044.

The offering is expected to close, subject to normal closing conditions, on July 17, 2014. The company intends to use the proceeds from this offering for share repurchases of its common stock and for general corporate purposes.

New York -- Barbara Turf, 71,  former CEO of Crate and Barrel, died July 12, at Evanston Hospital, of pancreatic cancer, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Turf was named CEO in 2008, after Crate & Barrel founder and longtime chief executive Gordon Segal retired. She joined Crate and Barrel as a part-time saleswoman in 1967, moving to its corporate headquarters in 1974. Turf retired as CEO in 2012 and joined the company's board of directors, the company said in a statement.

Mylan has entered into a definitive agreement with Abbott whereby Mylan will acquire Abbott's non-U.S. developed markets specialty and branded generics business in an all-stock transaction.

Upon closing, Abbott will receive 105 million shares of the combined company worth approximately $5.3 billion based on Mylan's closing price of $50.20 on Friday, July 11, 2014, representing an approximately 21% ownership stake.