Mergers & Acquisitions

Simon Property Group reported a 5% drop in net income to $527 million for the second quarter, yet declared positive results based on other measures. Total portfolio net operating income, which tracks comparable property and new property growth, grew 7.4% over second quarter 2015 and growth in comparable funds from operations rose 9.1%.   The Simon board declared a 6.5% increase in its stock dividend for the quarter and raised its guidance for full-year 2016 net income to be within a range of $6.04 to $6.12 per diluted share.

Nordstrom is doubling down on its partnership with J.Crew Group’s Madewell brand.   The department store chain plans to expand the brand to an additional 20 stores this fall.  It’s the third distribution expansion since the initial launch of the partnership in March 2015, and will result in the retailer carrying Madewell goods in a total of 76 locations in the U.S. and Canada, as well as on Nordstrom.com.     

Supervalu Inc. on Wednesday lower-than-expected profit for the first quarter amid ongoing efforts to spin off its Save-A-Lot division.   The supermarket operator reported a profit a profit of $46 million for the quarter, down from $61 million, in the year-ago period. Adjusted for charges related to the potential separation of Save-A-Lot and other factors, earnings declined to $53 million from $65 million last year.   Supervalu’s net revenue fell 3.9% to $5.20 billion.  

Sears Canada is losing another top executive who has been on the job for less than a year.   The retailer announced that Carrie Kirkman is leaving her role as president and chief merchant to transition to an “advisory role.” In a statement, the company said Kirkman had been “brought aboard to focus on strategic brand partner development,” and that new brands will debut this fall. Kirkman will reportedly leave her post after July 30.  

Dollar General has purchased 41 former Walmart Express locations across 11 states in a move designed to allow the discounter to expand its fresh meat and produce offerings.   Dollar General said it expects to relocate 40 existing Dollar General stores into the purchased sites by October 2016. It will also enter one new market.   Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.  

CBL & Associates announced it has completed a $66.5 million sale of two malls in Michigan — The Lakes in Muskegon and the Fashion Square Mall in Saginaw. The identity of the buyer was not disclosed.   CBL president and CEO Stephen Lebovitz said the Michigan sales were part of a long-term plan to move to a portfolio of higher quality, higher-growth portfolios.   

Influential and longtime Walmart executive Don Soderquist died after complications related to heart surgery. He was 82.   Soderquist joined Walmart in 1980 as executive VP of administration and logistics and was a driving force behind the company’s growth. From 1988 to 1999, he served as vice chairman and COO. He retired in 2000 and remained on the Walmart board until 2002.   

The Federal Trade Commission has given its blessing to a deal that creates the fourth largest supermarket company in the United States.   Delhaize Group, owner of Food Lion, and Royal Ahold NV, owner of Stop & Shop, on Sunday completed their $29 billion merger after they received regulatory clearance by the Federal Trade Commission.