Mergers & Acquisitions

Fort Meyers, Fla. -- Chico's FAS Inc. said Wednesday that its fiscal first-quarter net income rose a better-than-expected 17% to 53.6 million in the three months through April 28, compared with $45.9 million a year ago. The chain also bumped up its revenue outlook for the year.

Revenue rose 21% to $650.8 million, beating expectations, from $537.2 million a year ago. The company September acquisition of women's clothing chain Boston Proper added $33.7 million in sales during the quarter.

When JCPenney hired former Target chief marketer, Michael Francis, to serve as president, the company no doubt thought he would bring with him a bit of Target's magic. Now, about six months since he assumed his role at JCPenney, the company has undergone a number of personnel changes and the implementation of its new "fair and square" price strategy, and investors are waiting for it to pay off.

New York -- J.C. Penney executives laid out further details of their strategy going forward during the chain’s quarterly conference call with investors. The call followed the release of J.C. Penney’s first quarter results, when it reported a worse-then-expected loss of $163 million, and a 19% drop in same-store sales.

J.C. Penney said it would launch a new private label apparel brand, jcp, for both men and women. The brand is set to debut in August.

Hingham, Mass. -- The Talbots and Sycamore Partners extended the exclusivity period for the private equity firm's non-binding $214.6 million takeover offer to May 22.

Talbots had entered into an exclusivity agreement with Sycamore on May 5, which was due to expire on May 15.

As part of Chain Store Age’s lead-up coverage to RECon 2012, to be held May 20-23 in Las Vegas, we talked with DLC’s Daniel Taub about what his expectations are for the big real estate show. Visit DLC’s booth at RECon, Upper South Hall, S2235.

New York -- Nash Finch has agreed to acquire the 18-store No Frills Supermarkets, which is based in Omaha, Neb.

The terms of the transaction, which is expected to be completed by the end of third quarter, were not immediately available.

In April, Nash Finch completed the acquisition of the 12-store Bag ’N Save supermarket chain.
 

Williamsburg, Va. -- Divaris Real Estate announced it has been appointed the exclusive leasing and management firm for The Marquis, located in Williamsburg, Va.

The Marquis is a 750,000-sq.-ft., regional power center. At its completion, The Marquis will be the largest retail development in Williamsburg, featuring specialty retailers and restaurants and several big-box retailers including Target, Kohl’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Best Buy and J.C. Penney.

MINNEAPOLIS — The president of Shoppers Food and Pharmacy will transition to a new role, parent company Supervalu announced Tuesday.