Trading Partners

In advance of the Walmart-led U.S. Manufacturing Summit held in Orlando, Walmart U.S. president and CEO Bill Simon wrote an op-ed piece for the Huffington Post titled, "Reviving U.S. Manufacturing Key to Rebuilding the Middle Class." In it, Simon alludes to the vanishing middle class — which found themselves jobless as products once produced in the U.S.

Financial network CNBC’s top anchor Maria Bartiromo took her show “Closing Bell” on the road this week to broadcast live outside the auditorium at the Orlando convention center where Walmart convened its domestic manufacturing summit.

Plano, Texas -- J.C. Penney Co. isn’t taking any chances. The retailer on Thursday announced it has adopted a one-year shareholder’s rights plan to protect itself against any future hostile takeover efforts.

Washington, D.C. -- The National Retail Federation issued the following statement from VP for government affairs public relations J. Craig Shearman in reaction to the Federal Reserve’s announcement Wednesday that it will appeal a U.S. District Court judge’s ruling that the cap it set on debit card swipe fees in 2011 was too high.

New York -- CBL & Associates Properties has announced the appointment of A. Larry Chapman to its board of directors.

Chapman is a retired 37-year veteran of Wells Fargo. He most recently served as group head of the bank’s commercial real estate lending business, responsible for the group’s 75 nationally located real estate loan production offices and 1,500 full time employees.

In the 1980s, animated public service commercials featuring McGruff the Crime Dog exhorted viewers that: “Together, we can take a bite out of crime.” Two decades later, department store retailer J.C. Penney is taking that spirit of teamwork to cooperatively use technology to combat retail crime in the greater Chicago area.

New York -- Tiffany & Co. today released its annual Corporate Responsibility Report, which affirms what the retailer says are efforts to positively improve the entire jewelry supply chain. This includes promoting responsible mining standards and increasing awareness about critical issues affecting the industry, such as the environmental concerns surrounding the development of the proposed Pebble Mine in Bristol Bay, Alaska.

PITTSBURGH — The PNC Financial Services Group has appointed Andrew Feldstein to its board of directors. Feldstein is co-founder, CEO and chief investment officer of BlueMountain Capital Management, LLC.

"Mr. Feldstein brings a reputation for innovation and additional risk management expertise to the board," said PNC executive chairman James E. Rohr. "His vision and experience should benefit PNC as we seek to grow our business and further strengthen our balance sheet."

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Terminix has entered the Canadian pest control market with the acquisition of substantially all the assets of Toronto-based Magical Pest Control. It is the first Canadian asset acquisition for the company.

Founded in 1997, Magical Pest Control is one of the largest pest control companies in Ontario. It specializes in commercial accounts and the property management sector, while also treating residential customers. The Toronto company, headed by president Mark Joseph, served customers throughout Ontario and eastern Canada.