Mergers & Acquisitions

With the value of its flagship store on New York City’s Fifth Avenue appraised at an astonishing $3.7 billion, Saks parent Hudson’s Bay Co. has taken out a $1.25 billion loan to pay down debt and finance a $250 million renovation in 2015.

Coppell, Texas – Bankrupt retailer Alco Stores is going out of business, and closing its 198 stores, a victim of both the economy and the changing retail landscape.   

Enhanced onmichannel capabilities were among the factors that incoming Foot Locker CEO Dick Johnson cited as contributing to the company’s increase in third quarter profits and same store sales.

Profits for the third quarter climbed to $120 million, or 82 cents per share, compared with profits of $104 million, or 70 cents per share, in the prior-year quarter. Third quarter same store sales increased 6.9% to $1.7 billion this year, compared with sales of $1.6 billion for the prior-year period.

Redmond, Washington - Retail Properties of America, Inc. announced the purchase of Avondale Plaza, a 39,000-sq.-ft. neighborhood shopping center in Redmond, Washington (Seattle MSA). The center is located on Avondale Road, and is anchored by PCC Natural Markets.   The purchase price was approximately $15 million.  

BATAVIA, Ill. - Deep-discount grocer Aldi is ramping up its U.S. expansion. The company plans to open 650 new stores across the country, including expanding to Southern California, bringing its total number of U.S. stores to nearly 2,000 by the end of 2018.   

CROSSMARK veteran Jim Norred was named president of the sales and marketing services company’s Marketing Solutions Group.

Norred most recently served as EVP of corporate development with responsibility for client services, business development, insights and corporate marketing. Prior to that, he served as the company’s CIO. He also has served as president of G2, an integrated marketing joint venture that ultimately was acquired by WPP in 2008.

Boston - X Team International, an international alliance of retail real estate advisors with expertise in more than 45 major markets throughout the U.S. and Canada, released third quarter transactional volumes totaling $746 million, bringing its year-to-date transactional volume to more than $2.24 billion.   

New Albany, Ohio - Abercrombie & Fitch Co. has entered into a franchise agreement with Grupo AXO to establish a retail store presence in Mexico. The franchise arrangement, the first in the company`s history, will encompass both the Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister brands.