Mergers & Acquisitions

Chicago -- Jones Lang LaSalle announced Monday it has acquired Means Knaus Partners, a Houston-based property management company as part of the firm's expansion in third-party property management.

The deal boosts Jones Lang LaSalle's portfolio of office space under management by 16 million sq. ft. of space with properties located primarily in Dallas, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Orlando, Fla., and Tampa, Fla.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Big Lots has reappointed Russell Solt to its board of directors after determining that the move is in the best interests of the company and its shareholders. 

Solt will also continue to serve as chairman of the compensation committee, which is composed entirely of independent non-executive directors. Consistent with the terms of the company's other directors, Solt's term will run until the 2014 annual meeting of shareholders.

New York -- Hedge fund manager and activist investor William Ackman is selling his entire stake in J.C. Penney.

Ackman's Pershing Square Capital Management, Penney’s single biggest shareholder with an approximate 18% stake, is offering its roughly 39.1 million shares for sale and used Citigroup as the bookrunner for the deal, Reuters reported. Penney filed a prospectus for the sale.

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.

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 -- Foot Locker's second-quarter net income increased 12%, partly due to a recent acquisition. (In July, the retailer completed its purchase of German athletic store chain Runners Point Group for $94 million.)

For the period ended Aug. 3, the company earned $66 million, compared to $59 million a year ago. Its results were in line with expectations.

Revenue rose 6.4% to $1.45 billion from $1.37 billion, in line with expectations. Same-store sales rose 1.8%.

Chesterfield, Mo. — Simon Property Group has announced the opening of Phase I of St. Louis Premium Outlets in Chesterfield, Mo., a suburb of St. Louis.

The 350,000-sq.-ft. Phase I features 90 outlets and is 100% leased. Designer and name branded outlet shops include Armani, Kate Spade New York, Michael Kors, Nike, Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th and Under Armour.

The center is a joint venture between Simon Property Group and Woodmont Outlets, an affiliate of The Woodmont Company, a retail shopping center developer and operator.

NEW YORK — Despite experiencing some challenges, particularly in the U.S., Foot Locker reported a comparable-store sales of 1.8% for the second quarter ended Aug. 3.