Mergers & Acquisitions

Columbus, Ohio – Big Lots reported a net loss of $9.5 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2013, up from a net loss of about $6 million in the year-ago period. The retailer also said it will exit the unprofitable Canadian market, which it entered through an acquisition in 2011.

Net sales grew about 2% in the same period, to $1.15 billion from $1.13 billion, and consolidated same-store sales declined about 2.5%.

The Westfield Group has agreed to purchase the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s remaining 50% interest in the World Trade Center’s retail square footage. The purchase price is US$800 million. Following the transaction, expected to close early next year, Westfield will own 100% of the retail space, which totals 365,000 sq. ft.

Los Angeles -- International payment and business development platform Payelp Global is partnering with mobile payment service Onebip, part of global mobile commerce group Neomobile.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. — In a not-so-unexpected move, Sears Holdings Corp. on Friday said it had filed to spin off its Lands' End unit.

Sears has been selling or spinning off assets during the past few years as it struggles to turn around its business. The company sold its Orchard Supply Hardware Stores and its Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores businesses last year. In October, Sears said it would consider strategic alternatives for its line of auto centers. Sears also is selling some store leases in Canada.

Nashville, Tenn. – Genesco’s net earnings fell 34% to $27.7 million, from $42.1 million during the third quarter of fiscal 2013 for Genesco. The company also reported a slight increase in net sales, to $666.3 million from $664.4 million, during the same period.

Whitehouse, Ohio — Devonshire REIT has announced the closing of its acquisition of the Great Lakes Plaza shopping center in Mentor, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland. Michaels and hhgregg co-anchor the center, which is 100% leased.

Devonshire bought the 81,349-sq.-ft. center from Simon Property Group for $8 million. Goldman Sachs Mortgage Company provided financing.

Sears Holdings' plan to spin off Lands' End may have gotten all the attention on Friday, but the retailer’s former hometown and outlet stores division shared results showing how it has fared after receiving similar treatment a year earlier.

Quebec City, Quebec – La Maison Simons will open a 113,000-sq.-ft. flagship at Square One Shopping Centre in Mississauga, Ontario in spring 2016. The two-level Simons store will be the retailer’s first store in Ontario and represents a $52 million investment and will occupy a large portion of the existing Sears store as part of Square One's ongoing development projects.