Finance & Capital Management

Youngstown, Ohio -- Cafaro Co. has announced it is actively seeking to expand its portfolio of enclosed malls.

According to the company, each potential acquisition property must demonstrate historic, stabilized net operating income and minimum sales of $300 per sq. ft. Cafaro said is interested in malls with a minimum gross leasable area of 600,000 sq. ft. in trade areas of 200,000 – 450,000 residents.
 
Cafaro currently owns and oversees more than 30 million sq. ft. of commercial real estate in 11 states.
 

There was quite a bit of excitement heading into this year’s RECon convention. The event is, in many respects, the annual event for retail real estate professionals from around the country (and more recently from around the world). It seemed to have a little bit more industry buzz going for it than in recent years. I think the combination of some encouraging economic indicators and the feeling that the industry is on the cusp of what may be a more sustainable long-term recovery had everyone’s optimism in high gear.

New York -- Barnes & Noble reported Tuesday that it narrowed its loss for the quarter ended April 28 to $57.6 million, compared with a loss of $59.4 million in the year-ago fourth quarter.

Revenue was essentially flat at $1.38 billion, missing Wall Street’s expected $1.48 billion in revenue. Retail sales rose 5% to $1.05 billion and Nook sales fell 11% to $164 million, as the company took back its Nook Simple Touch e-reader from retailers to make room for new inventory.

Same-store sales increased 4.5%.

PHILADELPHIA — Pep Boys CFO Ray Arthur has resigned from the company in order to pursue another business opportunity, the company announced Monday. Arthur will continue in his duties until June 29. The Company has engaged Russell Reynolds to conduct a national search for Arthur’s replacement.

Dallas -- Alliance Data Systems has agreed to acquire The Bon-Ton Stores’ private-label credit card portfolio worth $475 million.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Alliance Data, which provides private-label credit card services to retailers, will also manage the retailer's private-label credit card program.

Bon-Ton Stores, Inc., operates 272 stores in 23 states across the Northeast, Midwest, and upper Great Plains, under a variety of banners.
 

Dallas -- SRS Real Estate Partners announced the promotions of two team members. Tom Power and Todd Wallace both have been promoted to executive VP.

Power has more than 13 years at SRS and is a managing partner for SRS Real Estate Partners – Northwest, LLC. He also serves as market leader for SRS' Northern California markets: San Francisco, San Jose and East Bay.

Plano, Texas -- In an announcement that caught the retail industry by surprise, J.C. Penney Co. said that Michael Francis will be leaving the company, effective June 18. Chief executive Ron Johnson will assume direct responsibility and oversight of the company's marketing and merchandising functions.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target has released its 2011 Corporate Responsibility Report, and while the company was happy to offer insight into its past performance, its focus is on the future. In that vein, the company has introduced new corporate responsibility goals:
 

• To increase its sustainable seafood selection by ennsuring its fresh and frozen seafood offerings are 100% sustainable and traceable by the end of fiscal year 2015.

• Enhance at least 50 owned-brand packaging designs to be more sustainable.