Content about Corporate finance

May 1, 2013
Sports Chalet taps Financial Profiles to be investor relations firm

Sport Chalet announced it has retained Financial Profiles as its investor relations firm.

Los Angeles -- Sport Chalet announced it has retained Financial Profiles as its investor relations firm.

"We have a number of important strategic initiatives in place to drive shareholder value and the time is right to step up our investor relations efforts," said Craig Levra, chairman and CFO of Sport Chalet. "We are pleased to collaborate with Financial Profiles to develop and implement a strategic investor relations program designed to build Sport Chalet's visibility within the investment community."

 

March 15, 2013
The Retail M&A Market: Trends for 2013

Mergers and acquisitions transaction activity in the U.S. retail sector jumped 39% in 2012 for deals greater than $50 million, while total deal value more than doubled. These gains point to an industry undergoing major changes, one that is attracting considerable interest from a wide range of players.

February 26, 2013
BDO survey: Retail CFOs bullish about M&A, IPO activity in 2013

The retail industry is poised for another year of heavy deal flow.

Chicago -- The retail industry is poised for another year of heavy deal flow. Nearly all retail CFOs (94%) expect merger and acquisition will increase or remain steady in 2013, according to a new survey from BDO USA.

The bullish forecasts follow $324.6 billion in global retail and consumer M&A activity in 2012, which was up 33% over 2011 and the busiest year since 2007, according to Dealogic. A majority of CFOs (68%) expect the U.S. markets to see a majority of deal volume, followed by the Asia-Pacific market (20%) and Latin America market (7%).

August 21, 2012
Collective Brands shareholders approve sale of company

Collective Brands stockholders voted at a special meeting to approve the sale of the company for about $1.32 billion.

Topeka, Kan. -- Collective Brands stockholders voted at a special meeting on Tuesday to approve the sale of the company for about $1.32 billion.

Collective, which owns the Payless and Stride Rite shoe store banners, had announced in May that it accepted a purchase offer from a group that includes Wolverine Worldwide Inc., Blum Capital Partners and Golden Gate Capital.

July 20, 2012
Five Below completes IPO

Five Below successfully completed its initial public offering of 9.6 million shares this week in a move that could see the company eventually grow from its current 200 locations to 2,000.

New York -- Five Below successfully completed its initial public offering of 9.6 million shares this week in a move that could see the company eventually grow from its current 200 locations to 2,000.

The Philadelphia-based discount chain targets tweens and teens with a wide range of accessories and other goods, all priced at $5 or below. It is on track to add 50 stores this year, and plans to open 60 locations in 2012.

July 9, 2012
Coldwater Creek announces new financing with Golden Gate Capital

Private equity firm Golden Gate Capital has provided Coldwater Creek with a five-year, $65 million senior secured term loan.

Sandpoint, Idaho -- Private equity firm Golden Gate Capital has provided Coldwater Creek with a five-year, $65 million senior secured term loan. The retailer also announced the completion of an amendment to its $70 million revolving credit facility with Wells Fargo Capital Finance, which matures on May 16, 2016.

July 6, 2012
Christopher & Banks rejects buyout offer from Aria Partners; adopts poison pill

Christopher & Banks Corp. has rejected Aria Partners’ unsolicited $64 million takeover offer, saying it was not in the best interest of stockholders.

Minneapolis -- Christopher & Banks Corp. has rejected Aria Partners’ unsolicited $64 million takeover offer, saying it was not in the best interest of stockholders. The private equity firm owns 4% of Christopher & Banks shares. The retailer also adopted a stockholder rights plan, or poison pill, with a trigger at 15%

Private equity firm Aria owns 4% of Christopher & Banks shares.

July 2, 2012
Bed, Bath & Beyond tender offer for Cost Plus shares is successful

Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. announced that its tender offer for the outstanding shares of common stock of Cost Plus was successful.

Union, N.J. -- Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. announced that its tender offer for the outstanding shares of common stock of Cost Plus was successful.

The company said Friday that about 20.8 million shares representing about 92% of Cost Plus' outstanding stock were tendered. The company currently has approximately 22.5 million outstanding shares, according to FactSet.

Cost Plus will become a Bed Bath & Beyond subsidiary and will stop trading on the Nasdaq the first business day after the deal closes.

July 2, 2012
Report: No buyout offer by Best Buy founder coming soon

Best Buy’s founder and former chairman Richard Schulze is not expected to present a buyout or other proposal to the company's board anytime soon, Reuters reported, citing a person familiar to the situation.

New York -- Best Buy’s founder and former chairman Richard Schulze is not expected to present a buyout or other proposal to the company's board anytime soon, Reuters reported, citing a person familiar to the situation.

Schulze owns more than 20% of the company’s shares. He abruptly resigned from the Best Buy board last June and said he was exploring options for his ownership stake. The company’s shares have risen lately on speculation that Schulze close to presenting a buyout offer.

June 5, 2012
Private equity firm buys majority stake in Party City in $2.7 billion deal

The Boston-based private equity firm Thomas H. Lee Partners has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Party City Holdings Inc., Rockaway, N.J., in a deal valued at $2.69 billion.

New York -- The Boston-based private equity firm Thomas H. Lee Partners has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Party City Holdings Inc., Rockaway, N.J., in a deal valued at $2.69 billion.

May 16, 2012
Talbots, Sycamore extend exclusivity agreement

The Talbots and Sycamore Partners extended the exclusivity period for the private equity firm's non-binding $214.6 million takeover offer to May 22.

Hingham, Mass. -- The Talbots and Sycamore Partners extended the exclusivity period for the private equity firm's non-binding $214.6 million takeover offer to May 22.

Talbots had entered into an exclusivity agreement with Sycamore on May 5, which was due to expire on May 15.

March 30, 2012
Michaels Stores files IPO

Michaels Stores Friday confirmed that it is has filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the proposed initial public offering of its common stock.

New York -- Michaels Stores Friday confirmed that it is has filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the proposed initial public offering of its common stock. According to the filing, the company proposed to raise $500 million in the IPO. The number of shares to be sold and the price range for the proposed offering have not yet been determined.

February 22, 2012
Growth Strategy: Mergers & Acquisitions

By Stephen Wyss

As retailers eye avenues for growth in 2012, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) will be a key area of interest and activity.

December 20, 2011
Talbots rejects buyout offer from Sycamore Partners

Talbots Inc. has rejected a buyout offer from private-equity firm Sycamore Partners its biggest shareholder, saying the bid “substantially” undervalues the company.

New York City -- Talbots Inc. has rejected a buyout offer from private-equity firm Sycamore Partners its biggest shareholder, saying the bid “substantially” undervalues the company. The bid was valued at approximately at $205.2 million.

Sycamore is Talbots biggest shareholder, with a 9.9% in the company. In a statement, Talbots called the proposal inadequate and said it will explore its strategic options to help maximize value for its shareholders. The retailer did not set a deadline for when its review will end.

December 6, 2011
TD Bank Survey: CFOs plan to increase capital expenditures in 2012

Middle market CFOs, buoyed by increasing optimism fueled by sales growth, are prepared to increase capital expenditures by dipping into their stockpile of cash reserves, according to a survey by TD Bank.

Cherry Hill, N.J. -- Middle market CFOs, buoyed by increasing optimism fueled by sales growth, are prepared to increase capital expenditures by dipping into their stockpile of cash reserves, according to a survey by TD Bank. The top three areas of expected capital deployment include technology (40%), improvements to existing facilities (17%), construction of new facilities (12%),

December 2, 2011
Michael Kors looks to go public

Michael Kors Holdings Ltd. is looking to raise as much as $792.3 million in an initial public offering that could value the company at $3.63 billion.

New York City -- Michael Kors Holdings Ltd. is looking to raise as much as $792.3 million in an initial public offering that could value the company at $3.63 billion.

The luxury brand, which has 169 stores in North America and 34 in Europe and Japan, said in a regulatory filing that it is offering 41.7 million shares on behalf of existing shareholders for $17 to $19 each.

November 18, 2011
Mattress Firm raises $105.6 million in IPO

Mattress Firm Holding Corp. raised about $105.6 million after pricing its initial public offering at the top of its expected range.

New York City -- Mattress Firm Holding Corp. raised about $105.6 million after pricing its initial public offering at the top of its expected range.

The retailer priced the IPO of 5.6 million shares at $19 each. It had expected shares to sell initially for $17 to $19 each.

Mattress Firm said it will use most of the offering's net proceeds — about $95 million after expenses — to repay $84.4 million in debt and pay fees to its biggest shareholder, Boston private equity firm J.W. Childs.

October 14, 2011
FacilitySource, receives $10 million in financing

Facility Source, a global provider of facility maintenance and management solutions to retailers, has received an investment of $10 million from BMO Capital Markets’ Mezzanine Fund.

Columbus, Ohio -- Facility Source, a global provider of facility maintenance and management solutions to retailers, has received an investment of $10 million from BMO Capital Markets’ Mezzanine Fund.

This infusion of capital will allow FacilitySource to fund growth and strategic capital expenditures, including expansion of its offices in North America and Europe, continued investment in its software applications to support retail facility management solutions, as well as pursue potential strategic acquisitions.

September 12, 2011
Restoration Hardware files plans for IPO

Restoration Hardware Holdings filed plans to return to the public stock market.

Corte Madera, Calif. -- Restoration Hardware Holdings filed plans to return to the public stock market. In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the company said it intends to offer up to $150 million in common shares to repay debt and for general corporate purposes.

July 15, 2011
Francesca’s prices IPO

Francesca's Holdings Corp. will price its initial public offering of 10 million shares between $14 and $16 a share, the Houston Business Journal reported.

New York — Francesca's Holdings Corp. will price its initial public offering of 10 million shares between $14 and $16 a share, the Houston Business Journal reported. 

The women’s specialty apparel retailer will trade on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange, under the ticker symbol FRAN, the report said.

In March 2011, private equity firm CCMP Capital acquired a controlling interest in Francesca’s, which operates 160 stores. 

July 11, 2011
Dunkin’ sets IPO price range

Dunkin’ Brands Group is seeking to raise as much as $460.6 million in its initial public offering, 15% more than the company planned in May, Bloomberg reported.

New York City -- Dunkin’ Brands Group is seeking to raise as much as $460.6 million in its initial public offering, 15% more than the company planned in May, Bloomberg reported.

Dunkin’ Brands is offering 22.3 million shares for $16 to $18 each, the chain said in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission today. The company may sell an additional 3.33 million shares, given sufficient demand.

June 21, 2011
Best Buy to buy back $5 billion of its shares

Best Buy Co. said Tuesday that it will buy back $5 billion of its common stock and raise its quarterly dividend by 7%.

Minneapolis -- Best Buy Co. said Tuesday that it will buy back $5 billion of its common stock and raise its quarterly dividend by 7%.

The retailer said that the buyback replaces a $5.5 billion repurchase program that had about $800 million left as of May 28. The announcement came just ahead of its shareholders meeting in Richfield, Minn.

June 17, 2011
Ackman considers I.P.O. for new fund

A Thursday report in the New York Times said that activist investor William A. Ackman is pondering whether or not to raise capital for a new fund through an initial public offering.

New York City -- A Thursday report in the New York Times said that activist investor William A. Ackman is pondering whether or not to raise capital for a new fund through an initial public offering.

Citing people familiar with the matter, the Times said that the head of Pershing Square Capital Management is planning to raise billions of dollars for a closed-end fund that would be listed on an exchange, but that the firm itself would not go public.

June 17, 2011
BJ's receives buyout offer

Leonard Green & Partners and CVC Capital Partners said Friday they are making a joint buyout bid worth an undisclosed amount for BJ's Wholesale Club.

New York City -- Leonard Green & Partners and CVC Capital Partners said Friday they are making a joint buyout bid worth an undisclosed amount for BJ's Wholesale Club. The two private equity firms revealed their plans in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing on Friday. The bid price was not disclosed.

In February, BJ's announced it was exploring a sale. In March, Leonard Green is already the chain's larger shareholder, with a 9.3% stake.

June 2, 2011
Report: Buyout firm in talks with Borders

Private equity firm Gores Group is in talks to buy more than half of Borders Group's remaining stores, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

New York City -- Private equity firm Gores Group is in talks to buy more than half of Borders Group's remaining stores, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Borders, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February, would be able to continue operating as a going concern, according to the report.

Other suitors are also talking with Borders, the Wall Street Journal reported.