MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS Ecolab Inc., St. Paul, has purchased the commercial laundry division of Dober Chemical Corp., a privately held firm based in Woodridge, Ill. Terms were not disclosed. Dober's commercial laundry business had 2009 sales of about $37 million. The company said the acquisition strengthens its North American commercial laundry business and provides data management and wastewater products technology.
NEW BUSINESS Grocery Shopping Network, Minneapolis, has added Gordy's Inc., Chippewa Falls, Wis., to its grocery shopping network. Gordy's operates six locations in Wisconsin.
Cargill Inc., Minnetonka, announced a three-year $5 million commitment to support sustainable cocoa in Ivory Coast and Ghana. This includes a partnership with CARE to sponsor a new program to improve the livelihoods of cocoa farmers and their families in the two nations.
Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, Minneapolis, has been awarded a five-year $1.6 million grant by the National Institutes of Health Cancer Education Grants Program. Children's will use the money to develop a training program to improve access to, and quality of, pediatric palliative care for children with advanced cancer and other life-threatening conditions.
DEBT AND EQUITIES Target Corp., Minneapolis, declared a quarterly dividend of 25 cents per common share, payable Dec. 10 to shareholders of record Nov. 20.
Christopher & Banks Corp., Plymouth, declared a quarterly cash dividend of 6 cents per share, payable Oct. 21 to shareholders of record on Oct. 7.
