Mergers & Acquisitions

Wal-Mart announced it's signed a definitive agreement to acquire Kosmix, underscoring its commitment to social and mobile commerce. Kosmix has developed a social media technology platform that filters and organizes content in social networks to connect people with real-time information that matters to them.

Vitamin Shoppe, a leading specialty retailer and direct marketer of nutritional products, announced that it's reached a milestone with the opening of its 500th store. This store, which opened on April 18 in Missouri, is the company's first store in this market and third in the state.

London-based Burberry Group launched the brand's first Burberry Brit concept in the United Kingdom in Covent Garden on April 15. Much like the Bleecker Street location, which recently opened in New York, the store design was developed exclusively by Christopher Bailey and represents a move to capture its increasingly younger, media-savvy consumers.

Blyth, Inc., a leading multichannel designer and marketer, announced that it's closed on the second phase of its acquisition of ViSalus Sciences and now owns 57.5 percent of the company. Blyth made its initial investment in ViSalus in August 2008.

Best Buy said it will boost its web presence, shrink some larger stores and open more of its smaller U.S. stores to try to win back market share from the likes of Amazon and Wal-Mart.

eBay announced that it's agreed to acquire additional shares in GittiGidiyor, the leading online marketplace in Turkey. The deal follows eBay’s acquisition of a minority stake in the company in 2007. Upon closing of the transaction, eBay will own approximately 93 percent of the outstanding shares of GittiGidiyor.

J.Crew said it plans a $20 million expansion of its Lynchburg, Va., distribution center to facilitate the retailer’s goal of selling more clothes overseas. J.Crew is slated to open its first store outside the tates and start shipping orders to Europe by the end of 2011.

Bed Bath & Beyond announced plans to open approximately 45 new stores across all of the company's concepts during 2011. "We believe that throughout the U.S. and Canada, there's an opportunity to create in excess of 1,300 Bed Bath & Beyond stores, as well as grow our Christmas Tree Shops and buybuy BABY concepts from coast to coast," said Warren Eisenberg, co-chairman of Bed Bath & Beyond.

Abercrombie & Fitch announced plans to open 20 new flagship and 40 new Hollister stores outside the U.S. by 2015 during its annual investor conference. Most of the new stores will be in Asia and Europe, though the chain said it plans to explore expansion in Latin America and other “southern hemisphere” markets soon.

Target plans to open more than 200 stores in Canada, with the first stores opening in 2013. With its first foray into the Canadian market, the big-box giant hopes to generate $6 billion in annual sales in Canada during the next six years.