Finance & Capital Management

Boston -- Pathlight Capital, part of Sycamore Partners, said it will serve as the administrative and co-collateral agent on a $28 million secured term loan facility to Montreal-based jewelry retailer Birks & Mayors.

The loan, which matures August 2018, amends an existing $18 million term loan; the Junior Capital Division of Wells Fargo Capital Finance will serve as the co-collateral agent on the facility.   

New York -- Jones Lang LaSalle has opened an office in Honolulu’s retail district.

“Robust real estate fundamentals across all asset classes makes Hawaii a top locale for investors, developers and retailers,” said Kirk Horiuchi, senior VP and Hawaii retail market lead.

Hawaii’s unemployment rate has dropped to 5% and is projected to fall further by year-end and boost consumer spending and the retail economy.

New York — Luxury apparel retailer 3.1 Phillip Lim has leased a 5,800-sq.-ft. store at 48 Jones Street in New York City’s Bowery district. The space includes a 3,500-sq.-ft. ground floor and a lower level with 2,300 sq. ft. The store is expected to open in the first quarter of 2014. 3.1 Phillip Lim also has a store in SoHo on Mercer Street as well as a third U.S. location in Los Angeles.

In the transaction, RKF www.rkf.com represented the landlord, 48 Tenant’s Corp., and Town Real Estate represented 3.1 Phillip Lim.

Jacksonville, Fla. — Madison Hawk will conduct a real estate auction on Sept. 18 for a free standing retail building just east of downtown Jacksonville, Fla. The building is part of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding.

Located at 1220 University Avenue, the 1.72-acre property contains a 15,070-sq.-ft. Walgreens Pharmacy that generates about $302,000 in net income annually. The Walgreens Co. lease is Double Net (NN) with the initial term running through 2019.

Beachwood, Ohio — DDR Corp. has announced that a joint venture formed with an affiliate of Blackstone Real Estate Partners VII L.P. has closed on the acquisition of a portfolio of seven prime shopping centers totaling 2.4 million sq. ft. The assets are located in supply constrained MSA’s including Los Angeles, San Diego, Washington D.C., Portland, Harrisburg, Pa., and Cincinnati.

Honolulu — With 42 million visitors per year, the two million-sq.-ft. Ala Moana Center in Honolulu boasts sales per square foot of $1,300. At the beginning of the year, owner General Growth Properties began a massive $572 million redevelopment of Ala Moana — the world’s largest open-air shopping mall. The goal is to add 650,000 sq. ft. of new retail space.

By Kathy Gersch, VP at Kotter International [email protected]

New York -- Aeropostale posted a loss of $33.7 million for the fiscal second quarter that ended Aug. 3, compared to a profit of $71 million a year ago. The teen retailer issued a weak outlook, and upped the number of stores that it plans to close.

Sales decreased 6% to $454.0 million from $485.3 million a year ago. Same-store sales, including the e-commerce channel, fell 15%.

The retailer said it now plans to shut down 30 to 40 Aeropostale locations this fiscal year. Previously, it had stated its plans to close 15 to 20 stores.  

New York -- Ann Inc. reported that its second quarter net income rose a better-than-expected 16% to $35.6 million, with strong performances from both its Ann Taylor and Loft banners. Similar to many other retailers in recent weeks, the chain trimmed its full-year revenue forecast.

Revenue for the period ended Aug. 3 increased 7% to $638.2 million.
 
Same-store sales rose 2.8%, with a 3.1% rise at Ann Taylor and a 2.5% lift at Loft.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores on Thursday brought together retailers, suppliers and government officials to figure out how they could work together to drive more manufacturing in the United States.