Corporate Governance

Indianapolis  — Kite Realty Group Trust has announced a definitive agreement with Inland Diversified Real Estate Trust. Under the agreement, Inland Diversified will merge with and into a wholly owned subsidiary of Kite Realty through a stock-for-stock merger. The transaction value is approximately $2.1 billion; the equity value is approximately $1.2 billion; and the enterprise value is approximately $3.9 billion — this based on the closing trading price of Kite realty’s common shares on February 7, 2014.

Atlanta -- The Home Depot announced the opening of its new direct fulfillment center, in Locust Grove, Ga. It is the first of three such facilities the company will open across the United States over the next two years, adding more than three million square feet and approximately 1,000 jobs to its supply chain.

Winnipeg, Manitoba -- Silver Jeans Co. will open a store at Woodfield Mall on April 11, in Schaumburg, Ill.

"We put a lot of work into making sure the store environment represents our brand," says Michael Silver, CEO, Silver Jeans Co. "Consumers will be able to experience our brand values by visiting one of our lofts. We've created an environment that has a comfortable modern feeling but also lets our guests know that we're a historic brand with a rich 92-year history."

Toronto -- Michael Culhane, CFO of Hudson’s Bay Company, has resigned following a leave of absence from the company.  

Culhane went on personal leave on January 22, at which time COO and president Donald Watros was appointed acting CFO. He will continue in that role until a permanent replacement is named.

“This is the ideal time for me to leave HBC as the company is well positioned for the future,” said Culhane. “I wish all of HBC’s associates and business partners continued success.”

Denver -- Junction Solutions announced it will implement Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 and JunctionMCR at Eckler Industries, the leading provider of parts and accessories for classic and enthusiast automobiles, to support the retailer’s multichannel growth strategy.
    

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will hold its annual shareholders meeting on June 6.

The meeting will be at Bud Walton Arena on the University of Arkansas campus at Fayetteville.

Mount Laurel, N.J. -- Agilence, a provider of cloud-based exception reporting solutions, announced that Redner's Markets has deployed Agilence’s Retail 20/20 to reduce shrink and improve in-store operations. The solution will also be utilized to provide visibility into daily store processes to increase efficiency and reduce fraud. Based in Reading, Redner's Markets is an employee-owned, regional supermarket chain with 44 warehouse markets and 18 quick shops throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware.

West Bloomfield, Mich. -- Mid-America Real Estate — Michigan has announced two new leases. DXL Men’s Apparel has taken a 10,514-sq.-ft. store on Miller Road in Flint, Mich. Mid-America represented DXL in the transaction

Jersey Mike’s has leased a 1,400-sq.-ft. location in the Canton Corners Shopping Center in Canton, Mich. Mid-America represented the landlord, Canton Corners Co., in the negotiations.

Indianapolis — Simon Property Group has received zoning approval from the Montgomery County Council in Maryland by unanimous vote for the development of Clarksburg Premium Outlets at Cabin Branch.

Simon Property Group, New England Development and Streetscape Partners make up the development team for the project, which will add 1,500 jobs and more than $150 million in private investment to the local economy. The development team is planning to open Clarksburg Premium Outlets by late 2015.

New York -- Retail and consumer (R&C) total transaction value in the United States for 2013 surpassed $100 billion for the first time since 2008, according to PwC’s US retail and consumer deals insights 2013 Year in Review and 2014 Outlook report. Deals in the food and beverage sector and private equity (PE) investment in the apparel, footwear and accessories sector continued to drive activity in the R&C industry.