Finance & Capital Management

New York -- Governor Jerry Brown of California on Wednesday signed a bill approving a $2 hike in the state’s minimum wage, with the increase to be rolled out during the next three years. The increase will make California's minimum wage the highest in the country.

The wage increase will go into effect in two separate $1 increments, going from the current minimum of $8 to $9 on July 1, 2014, and then to $10, on January 1, 2016.

Southeastern Grocers, parent company of Bi-Lo and Winn-Dixie supermarkets, has filed a registration statement on a proposed initial public offering.  

The shares are expected to be offered by Southeastern Grocers, and the number of shares to be offered and the price range for the offering have not yet been determined.

Citigroup, Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank Securities will act as representatives of the underwriters for the offering, and, together with William Blair and Wells Fargo Securities, will act as joint book-running managers for the offering. 

Tewksbury, Mass. – DeMoulas Supermarkets Inc., operator of the Market Basket supermarket chain, has reportedly been allowed by a judge in Suffolk Superior Court in Massachusetts to continue making a $300 million payout to shareholders.

According to the Boston Globe, Judge Judith Fabricant denied a motion by Arthur T. DeMoulas, president of DeMoulas Supermarkets, to stop the payout, which had been approved by a majority of the company’s board of directors. All nine shareholders receiving the payout are members of the DeMoulas family.

El Segundo, Calif. -- The fast-growing fashion subscription online retailer, JustFab, announced it has secured $40 million in Series C funding led by Hong Kong-based Shining Capital Management to further its expansion plans. The company recently opened its first store, at the Glendale Galleria, Glendale, Calif.

Former president of Giant-Landover, Anthony Hucker, has joined Schnuck Markets as EVP and chief strategy officer.

Hucker recently resigned as president of Giant-Landover, a chain owned by Ahold USA that runs 169 stores in the District of Columbia and surrounding areas.

"Anthony is a tremendous talent who shares our values; he's customer-focused and a true merchant in every sense," Schnucks chairman and CEO Scott Schnuck said. "We expect that he will add velocity to efforts that will ensure Schnucks' continued growth and success."

Auburn, Ala. — Toomer’s Coffee Company and Auburn Rays have each leased 1,400 sq. ft. in Hamilton Place Shopping Center in Auburn, Ala., according to Pine Tree Commercial, which owns the property in partnership with Privet Investments LLC and Silverpeak Real Estate Partners.

The Shopping Center Group represented the landlord in the transaction.

J.C. Penney is looking to raise $750 million to $1 billion in cash equity. According to Reuters, J.C. Penney, which is valued at $2.6 billion, is considering issuing new stock shares as well as other unspecified alternatives.

Boston – A new headquarters complex athletic shoe manufacturer New Balance is constructing in the Brighton section of Boston will reportedly include 65,000 sq. ft. of retail space.

According to the Boston Business Journal, ground has been broken on the $500 million, 1.45 million-sq.-ft. site. In addition to New Balance corporate headquarters and retail space, the site will also include an athletic complex, NHL-regulation hockey arena, a hotel, office space, 1,750 parking spaces and its own commuter rail stop.