Deals

Hollywood, Calif. -- Frederick's of Hollywood Group Inc. has retained Allen & Co. LLC, a New York-based investment bank, to assist the retailer in evaluating and exploring a broad range of strategic alternatives, including a sale of the company or a business combination.

Hingman, Mass. -- The Talbots Inc. said it has received a raised takeover offer of $214.6 million from private equity firm Sycamore Partners. The company also said it entered an exclusivity agreement with Sycamore, which will end on May 15.

Talbots said Sycamore had offered to pay $3.05 per share -- slightly higher than the $3.00 per share offer it made in December.

The board of retailer said it continues to evaluate strategic alternative.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Sears Holdings Corp. revealed in a Monday filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that the previously announced spinoff of its Sears’s Outlet and Sears’s Hometown and Hardware stores will now combine the two chains into one separate company.

The move, part of Sears’ initiative to cut expense and regain profits, will result in the newly named Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores Inc. and a public offering that is expected to raise $400 to $500 million for Sears.

Minneapolis -- Target said it will open its new smaller format concept, CityTarget, at the Beverly Connection in Los Angeles, in March 2013. The 99,000-sq.-ft. will be located on the second floor of the shopping complex, at the corner of La Cienega and Beverly Boulevard.

Kansas City, Mo. -- Irvine, Calif.-based Passco Cos. announced it has completed the acquisition of Shoppes at Coronado Place I, a 14,534-sq.-ft. strip center in Blue Springs, Mo., two miles from downtown Kansas City.

The purchase price was $4.3 million.

The property is across the street from a Wal-Mart, Home Depot and the new 600,000-sq.-ft. Adams Dairy Landing power center, anchored by Target.

Griffin, Ga. -- The Kroger Co. and Collins & Arnold said they have broken ground on Phase II of Griffin Pavilion, a retail development located in Griffin, Ga., and developed by The Sofran Group.

The final phase of the project will consist of a 94,000-sq.-ft. Kroger with an 18- pump Fuel Center.  The grocery store site will include 20,000 sq. ft. for future expansion.

Phase I of Griffin Pavilion was completed in 2004 and includes a Lowes Home Center, O'Reilly Auto Parts and Wells Fargo bank.

Oak Brook, Ill. -- The Inland Real Estate Group of Cos. announced the appointment of Timothy D. Hutchison as COO of The Inland Real Estate Group.

In this position, Hutchison will be responsible for all non-investment operations of the company. Additionally, he will retain his duties as head of The Inland Services Group, leading the shared service entities.

Hutchison joined Inland in 2005 after having spent 14 years in operations and management roles in municipal government.

Washington, D.C. -- Sax Realty said that Bed Bath & Beyond will open a new 28,000-sq.-ft. store at Village South at Waugh Chapel, the largest power strip being built in the Washington, D.C., area.

The store is slated to open in the fall.

The one million-sq.-ft. mixed-use development, developed by Greenberg Gibbons, is also anchored by Wegman's, Target, Regal Cinema, Dick's Sporting Goods and Petco.

New York -- Winick Realty Group announced that it has hired Kenneth Hochhauser to join the company’s executive team as executive VP to assist in both tenant and landlord representation.

Hochhauser joined Winick Realty on May 1 following a long tenure at Newmark Knight Frank, where he ultimately held the position of senior VP.
 

New York -- Shoe manufacturer Wolverine Worldwide Inc. announced Tuesday that it has partnered with equity firms Blum Capital Partners and Golden Gate Capital to acquire Payless ShoeSource parent Collective Brands Inc. for about $1.3 billion.