Corporate Governance

Toy maker Jakks Pacific secured a $75 million credit facility from GE Capital.

The nine year old company based in Malibu, Calif., plans to use proceeds for working capital, capital expenditures and general corporate purposes as needed.

Suffern, N.Y. — Lane Bryant has opened new stores in Kentucky, New Jersey and Texas. The Kentucky store is located at The Shoppes at Gary Farms in Bowling Green. In New Jersey, the new Lane Bryant has opened at Willow Ridge Plaza in Marlton. The third location is in the Chimney Rock Shopping Center in Odessa, Texas.

Lane Bryant is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ascena Retail Group.

Leading global cooler manufacturer Igloo was acquired by Washington, D.C.-based private equity firm ACON Investments from Connecticut-based private equity firm J.H. Whitney.

ACON said J.H. Whitney will continue to maintain a small, but undisclosed, stake in the company. Igloo will continue to be led by chairman and CEO Gary Kiedaisch and other members of the existing management team who are also purchasing significant interests in Igloo in connection with the transaction. The company will focus on continued growth in the outdoors, housewares and sporting goods markets.

Dallas — Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants will open three new Dickey’s Barbecue Pits this week. On April 2, the chain will open a restaurant in Colorado Springs, Colo., and on April 3, two more restaurants will open, one in Gulfport, Miss., and another in Stockton, Calif.

Austin, Texas -- Whole Food Market will purchase four stores from New Frontiers Natural Marketplace. The stores, which average 22,000 sq. ft., are located in Flagstaff, Prescott and Sedona, Ariz.; and San Luis Obispo, Calif. The two companies expect the transaction to be finalized in the next few weeks.

The stores will continue to operate under the New Frontiers Natural Marketplace banner until they are re-signed as Whole Foods Market stores.

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. -- Bicycle retailer BikeStreet announced the appointment of former Hhgregg executive VP & COO Gregg Throgmartin as CEO. With 17 shops opened since the brand’s founding in 2012, BikeShop aims to acquire and/or open nearly 1,000 shops across the nation under Throgmartin’s leadership.   
 

Boca Raton, Fla. – Office Depot Inc. has named Juliet Johansson as executive VP and chief strategy officer, effective immediately. Johansson is a member of Office Depot’s executive committee and reports to Roland Smith, chairman and CEO of Office Depot Inc.

It’s official. Loblaw has completed its acquisition of Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation, which is now a separate operating division of Loblaw.

"The most successful partnerships are grounded in strengths that complement each other," said Galen G. Weston, executive chairman, Loblaw. "Loblaw and Shoppers Drug Mart are perfect partners. We will drive growth and profitability through our unmatched mix of store formats, products and offerings. This is truly a case of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts."