News

Dallas – Neiman-Marcus Group Inc. and Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) are reportedly seeking loans to support merger and acquisition activity.

According to Bloomberg, Neiman-Marcus is trying to secure $3.75 billion in loans to support its planned buyout by Ares Management LLC and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. That figure reportedly includes a $2.95 billion term loan and an $800 million asset-backed loan.

A recent string of media reports has focused on major retailers that track customers who return merchandise. While the plaintiffs’ bar and the media are seeking to transform return monitoring into a headline-grabbing consumer privacy issue, the practice is hardly new, it is certainly justified as an anti-fraud measure and any litigation or compliance risk should be mitigated by appropriate disclosures.

In its PizzaRev case study series, CSA offers an insider’s look at the conception, initial rollout and growth of the southern Calif.-based fast-casual concept PizzaRev. Likened to “the Chipotle of pizza,” this innovative chain lets customers choose from an artisanal array of toppings to craft their own pizzas very quickly in a high-end stone hearth oven. A test kitchen in Northridge, Calif., was launched in April 2012 and two additional locations quickly followed.

Dick’s Sporting Goods 2013 store expansion efforts are winding down, but not before the retailer opens a new unit next week in Albuquerque, N.M., and mixed martial artist Carlos Condit participates in grand opening festivities.

Wilmington, N.C. -- National mobility equipment franchisor 101 Mobility is seeking to attract potential franchisees in the Kansas City, Mo., market. 101 Mobility has introduced geo-specific online advertising combined with SEO-rich organic content to reach potential Kansas City franchise candidates.

101 Mobility currently has 29 franchisees operating physical and online stores in 70 territories.

Leading food company ConAgra is out with its 2013 Citizenship Report detailing progress on a three-pronged citizenship platform of, “good for you, good for the community and good for the planet.”

The report is intended to show how the company is doing good through food while delivering growth for shareholders and is available here.

Ahold USA-owned supermarket chain Giant Food Stores celebrated its 90th birthday.

The supermarket banner, which operates nearly 200 stores under the Giant and Martin's Food Markets brands in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia, marked its anniversary Friday morning at a store in its hometown of Carlisle, Pa. Customers at all the company's 200 stores will receive free slices of cake and free apple slices Friday.

Salt Lake City -- PECO Net Lease Income Fund (NLIF) has acquired four properties including two Family Dollar stores in New Mexico and two Raising Cane's restaurants, including one in Lexington, Ky., and one in Mt. Pleasant, S.C.