Mergers & Acquisitions

For the first time since launching the makeup brand 16 years ago, Francois Nars will be opening a namesake, stand-alone boutique. It officially opens on Feb. 10 in New York City's West Village.

Urban Outfitters will debut a wedding brand called BHLDN on Valentine's Day. BHLDN's first collection will be offered through its online boutique, www.bhldn.com. The collection will bring together a curated selection of heirloom-quality wedding gowns, bridesmaid frocks, party dresses, assorted jewelry, headpieces, footwear and lingerie.

Destination Maternity, free of the restructuring charges that put a dent into profits last year, said its first-quarter net income more than quadrupled, easily topping Wall Street expectations.

Grocery retailer Supervalu, which operates more than 4,200 stores across the country, will shutter 29 underperforming locations by the end of its fiscal year, which will be in early March. Fifteen of the targeted stores are located in the Northeast. In addition, the company plans to cut 350 corporate jobs by the end of May, in addition to 300 corporate positions it eliminated in 2010.

Wal-Mart said it will be spending half a billion dollars this year to expand in Canada, the latest example ot a retail rush north to take advantage of Canada's relatively robust economy and eager-to-spend consumers. 

Borders is selling its Day by Day Calendar business as it looks to shore up cash amid its liquidity crisis. The bookseller confirmed with TheStreet that it entered into an agreement with Calendar Holdings to divest its kiosk business.

J.C. Penney announced a series of actions designed to build on its accomplishments and focus on its highest potential growth opportunities. They include the wind down of its catalog and outlet operations, closing certain underperforming store locations, and streamlining its call center operations.

Amazon is acquiring the European subscription entertainment service LOVEFILM International — dubbed as Europe's version of Netflix — through a deal that values the company at a reported $550 million.

Littleton-based equestrian retailer Dover Saddlery Inc. saw total revenues increase 6.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010, according to preliminary unaudited numbers, the company said.

Retailers in 2011 will be intent on actively growing their businesses and improving customer insight capabilities, in addition to continuing efforts begun during the economic downturn to stabilize operating costs and focus on financial discipline, according to a report from the National Retail Federation’s research and education arm, the NRF Foundation, and KPMG LLP, the U.S. audit, tax and advisory firm.