Trading Partners

The private equity firms that paid a premium to take Michaels private nearly a decade ago continue to gradually unwind their majority position in the nation’s largest arts and crafts retailer.

Coty is buying 43 beauty brands from Procter & Gamble Co., including Miss Clairol, Covergirl and Max Factor.

It was a busy few days in Bentonville earlier this week when Walmart held its “Made In USA” Open Call event combined with a U.S. Manufacturing Summit.

Dallas – Convenience store purchases are often small, inexpensive items most consumers would prefer to pay cash for. 7-Eleven Inc. is making sure customers always have access to cash through an agreement with Financial Consulting & Trading International Inc. (FCTI) to become its new ATM provider.

FCTI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Seven Bank an ATM provider for all 7-Eleven stores in Japan. 7-Eleven's U.S. company-operated and franchised stores are expected to transition to FCTI's ATM program in 2017.
 

Hoffman Estates, Ill. – Sears Holding Corp. has met financial expectations for its new real estate investment trust (REIT) called Seritage Growth Properties. A 53.3 million-share Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) subscription rights offering for Seritage that closed on July 2 was oversubscribed and generated about $1.6 billion, meeting expectations for gross proceeds of $1.57 billion.

Indianapolis - Lids Sports Group will continue living out the childhood dreams of countless consumers by “playing ball” with Major League Baseball players. Lids has reached a licensing agreement extension with the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) granting the sportswear retailer licensing rights to embroider the names, numbers and autographs of MLBPA players on New Era MLB-licensed caps.

Littleton, Mass. – Specialty equestrian retailer Dover Saddlery Inc. is jumping into a new business arrangement.

Dover Saddlery has completed its merger with a company formed by Webster Capital. Dover shareholders will receive $8.50 per share in cash in the merger, and all in-the-money stock options and warrants will be cashed out.

San Antonio, Texas - CST Brands Inc., through its CrossAmerica Partners LP wholly-owned subsidiary, has closed its previously announced acquisition of the Charleston, West Virginia-based One Stop convenience store network. CST is also moving 29 recently constructed stores into its wholly-owned CrossAmerica partnership via two “dropdown” transactions.

Philadelphia -- The Pep Boys – Manny, Moe & Jack is reviewing its options.

The chain announced that its board directors has commenced a review of strategic alternatives to enhance shareholder value, including a possible sale, merger or other form of business combination or strategic transaction.

In the midst of its strongest growth in years, Meijer and its produce partners are touting the company’s $100 million locally grown commitment.