Consumer Affairs & Relations

New York – Saks Inc. has settled lawsuits from investors related to its proposed buyout by Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC). According to Bloomberg, Saks has reached an agreement that reduces the termination fee it would pay HBC in the event the purchase does not happen and reduces the time Saks has to seek alternative offers

Plano, Texas – J.C. Penney Co. has reportedly been defending itself against anonymous allegations made on Twitter. According to Bloomberg, J.C. Penney recently had to publicly deny tweets saying the company had hired a bankruptcy attorney and no longer had Canadian credit.

Coppell, Texas – Alco Stores, Inc. will voluntarily delist its common stock from the Nasdaq Stock Market on or about Oct. 31, 2013. The delisting of the company's shares is subject to stockholder approval of the proposed merger with an affiliate of Argonne Capital Group, LLC.

Englewood, Col. -- Sports Authority has debuted a new format at its first-ever store in Puerto Rico. The store, in Ponce, opened on Oct.19.

The 35,000-sq.-ft. location features an “intuitive” that makes it easier than ever for customers to find exactly what they need, the retailer said. With specialty sport shops and a spacious new layout, the store was designed specifically to enhance the shopping experience.

Watters Creek, in Allen, Texas, began life in a 2005 focus group with two-dozen women from Allen.

Organized by the property’s developer Trademark Property Co., the focus group asked participants what they would like to see in this new mixed-use center. What should it offer? What should it look like? What do you need in Allen, Texas?

Gokul Rajaram, head of product engineering at disruptive payments company Square, has joined the board of directors at digital coupon marketplace RetailMeNot.

Goodlettsville, Tenn. – Dollar General is opening its first fuel station, as part of a test pilot project. The new fuel pumps are located at the Dollar General Market in Hanceville, Ala.

Denver – Quiznos is preparing to expand in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with the recent signature of Royal Bun Cafe as its newest franchisee. Quiznos and Royal Bun Cafe worked together to establish the blueprint for the venture that will bring more than 70 restaurants to the UAE during the next eight years.

Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah will be the first UAE expansion locales, with stores expected to be complete by early 2014. Quiznos recently expanded into Mexico and Russia.

Fort Worth, Texas -- Pier 1 Imports announced that its board of directors has authorized a new $200 million share repurchase program.

The new share repurchase program is effective immediately and authorizes the repurchase of up to $200 million of the company’s common stock in open market or private transactions. As of October 17, 2013, Pier I had approximately 103.8 million shares of common stock outstanding.
 

Birmingham, Ala. -- Hibbett Sports announced that effective February 2, 2014, Mickey Newsome will transition from his current position as executive chairman and employee of the company to non-executive chairman.

The retailer also announced that Jeff Rosenthal, president and CEO, has been appointed to the board of directors, effective immediately, thereby increasing the size of the board to ten members.